Latest news with #SharjahCulturalandChessClub
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sharjah 24
191 players compete in FAST Int'l Chess Championship
Opening Ceremony Attended The opening ceremony on the first board was attended by Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, a board member of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, alongside Eng. Fathi Jabr Afana, CEO of FAST Building Contracting, and other distinguished guests. Continued Community Commitment Eng. Fathi Afana expressed his pleasure at being present, highlighting FAST Group's ongoing dedication to supporting sports and community chess initiatives as part of its social responsibility. He emphasised that chess, as a strategic mental sport, plays a vital role in character building, saying, "We are proud to support this championship and strive to help the UAE strengthen its position on the global sports stage." Partnership Strength Highlighted He expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, for the successful collaboration. He added, "The partnership between FAST Group and the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club showcases the strong synergy between the private sector and government institutions. It aligns with the leadership's vision to support sports organisations and encourage all forms of sports across the UAE. This continued partnership has expanded to include tournaments carrying our group's name, as well as backing major international events organised by the club." Record Participation Celebrated Abdullah Murad Al Mazmi, board member of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, stated, "This championship has seen record-breaking participation and stands out as a key event on the club's calendar. It offers many technical, organisational, and administrative advantages. Our main objective is to organise tournaments that enhance the skills of Emirati players, provide them with valuable experience, and boost their international rankings, ultimately supporting the growth of our national teams."
Gulf Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Sharjah Chess Club players to compete in Chess Stars and Arab Championship
The Board of Directors of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, held its regular meeting in the presence of board members. He welcomed the attendees and extended his gratitude for their continued efforts and contributions in recent months. During the meeting, the board congratulated three club players who were selected out of five total chess athletes across the country for the Talent Committee Platform, recently launched by the Ministry of Sports under the umbrella of the UAE Committee for Nurturing Sports Talent and Supporting National Sports. The selected players are Saqr Issa Khamis, Rashid Hussein Al Hammadi, and Safin Safar. The board also approved the club's participation in the Chess Stars Tournament, set to take place in Moscow from June 25 to July 1. The delegation will be headed by Vice President of Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club Omran Al Nuaimi, alongside coach Walter Arencibia and four players: Saqr Issa, Rashid Al Hammadi, Mohammed Al Muaini, and Abdulrahman Al Ali. Additionally, the club will compete in the Arab Individual Chess Age Groups Championship in Morocco from July 20 to 28, with board Member Khalifa Al Mazrouei leading the delegation. The team will include 12 players, accompanied by three coaches. The meeting also reviewed preparations for the upcoming training camp of Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman, who is set to compete in the Biel Chess Festival in Switzerland, a prestigious event reserved for top-tier international players. Salem is also scheduled to participate in the Grand Swiss Championship in Uzbekistan. The board received updates on the organizing committee's final preparations for the club's annual summer programme, 'Our Holiday is Different', in which Sharjah Chess Club participates actively every year. Sheikh Dr. Khalid expressed his sincere appreciation to all board members for their active role in the club's recent events, especially the successful hosting of the Sharjah International Masters Chess Championship. He emphasized that the club's achievements, both in terms of competition results and world-class event organization, bring with them a great responsibility to continue excelling and reaching new heights. He affirmed that the club's success stems from its team-first philosophy, which has proven to be the cornerstone of its progress. He added that the club is set to participate in several upcoming international and regional tournaments and is hopeful of delivering strong performances. He also praised the Sharjah Sports Council, chaired by Issa Hilal Al Hazami, for its invaluable support, noting that the club is committed to turning this support into more achievements through close collaboration between the Board, coaching staff, and administration.
Gulf Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Today
Giri wins Sharjah Masters Chess Championship
Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports of the UAE, attended the closing ceremony of the 8th Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship. Organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the tournament featured 350 players from 60 countries. Dr. Falasi emphasized that the championship underscores the UAE's prominent position in the global sports arena, particularly in chess, a game that combines intellect, strategy, and talent. He stated, 'This tournament has solidified its status as a global platform attracting world champions and offering emerging talents the opportunity to gain experience and learn diverse playing styles at the highest levels.' He added, 'The significant participation and exceptional organization reflect the commitment of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club and the Sharjah Sports Council to advancing the sport and reinforcing Sharjah's role as an international hub for chess. The fruitful collaboration between various governmental and private entities contributed to delivering an outstanding edition by all standards.' He commended all efforts behind the tournament's success, affirming that the Ministry of Sports prioritizes supporting initiatives that enhance the UAE's stature in hosting global championships and preparing a generation of local champions capable of excelling internationally. The closing ceremony and awards presentation were attended by Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Hamid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club and President of the Arab Chess Federation; Taryam Matar Taryam, President of the UAE Chess Federation; Essa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council; and numerous sports figures. The event also featured the announcement of the winners of the Arab Chess Federation's Translation and Composition Award and the honoring of the award's jury committee. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri clinched the Masters title after securing 7 points out of 9 rounds, marking the first time a European player has won the championship. Serbian Grandmaster Aleksandar Indjic and top-seeded Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Abdusattorov both scored 6.5 points, with Indjic taking second place and Abdusattorov finishing third on tiebreaks. Winners of the B and C categories were also honored during the ceremony. Sheikh Dr. Khalid expressed profound gratitude to Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi for his unwavering support of sports and athletes, and for his patronage of the championship. He also thanked Dr. Falasi for attending the closing ceremony, as well as Hazami and Taryam Matar Taryam for their continuous support of the clubs. He affirmed that the championship achieved numerous gains on technical, administrative, and organizational levels, attributing the professional organization to the dedicated efforts of the working team. The tournament left a significant impact on participating players, including those who secured top positions and those who attained international titles. Hazami noted, 'The championship showcased high-level performances and recorded unprecedented participation, with players from 60 countries, underscoring its global reputation. We take pride in organizing a tournament of such professional caliber and extend our gratitude to the club's management, led by Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Hamid Al Qasimi, and the organizing committee. Importantly, each edition of the championship reveals new talents and heralds the emergence of future stars.'
Al Etihad
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Dutchman Giri makes Sharjah chess history in winning title
27 May 2025 00:48 KUUMAR SHYAM (SHARJAH)Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri made history in the UAE by becoming the first European to win the prestigious Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship. Giri clinched the title with an impressive seven out of nine points, edging out Serbian GM Aleksandar Indjic and Uzbek prodigy Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who both finished with 6.5 eighth staging of the tournament, held at the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, attracted over 350 players from 60 countries, with Giri taking home the winner's cheque of $15,000. The champion of Indian origin gained 20.94 FIDE Circuit points, taking him up to third place behind GMs Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu and Ding Liren in the race for a 2026 FIDE Candidates championship spot, and 10.3 rating points, which has seen him vault to world No.12 from 23rd position on the rating the closing ceremony, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Minister of Sports, underscored the significance of the event. Dr. Al Falasi said: 'This tournament has solidified its status as a global platform attracting world champions and offering emerging talents the opportunity to gain experience and learn diverse playing styles at the highest levels.'Giri's victory adds to his illustrious career, which includes five Dutch national titles and a peak world ranking of No. 3. In a recent interview, Giri reflected on the evolving landscape of chess, noting the increasing prominence of younger players and the impact of technological advancements on the game. He observed: 'Chess has changed a lot. There's been progress. Technological progress. The engines have gotten so much stronger... Now, with neural networks, computers have gained intuition, and you can just learn from them.'In his own minor way, to innovate and find ways to win the tournament, Giri caused a stir when he drew with GM Velimi Ivic after just four moves by each player in the penultimate round. After a solid draw in the earlier round to navigate the main threat, the top seed and Uzbekistan's Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Giri made the quick draw 'as part of a deep strategic' thought without elaborating. It was obvious though that he went for broke in preparing for a final-round push against Indian GM Aditya Mittal to score the win, which he did, going into the round at the start of the day as joint leader with other big winner of the event was Bibisara Assaubayeva, who survived two crazy final draws to become only the 43rd woman to earn the grandmaster title. International Master Faustino Oro's bid to become the youngest player ever to earn a GM norm fell just short, after the 11-year-old lost his final two games. The championship also celebrated achievements beyond the main event, including the announcement of the winners of the Arab Chess Federation's Translation and Composition Award. Dignitaries such as Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Hamid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club and President of the Arab Chess Federation, and Essa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, were present to honour the participants and organisers.
Gulf Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Giri and Abdusattorov share lead as Sharjah Masters surpasses 1m views
The 8th edition of the Sharjah International Masters Chess Championship, organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, has officially surpassed one million views across social media platforms and international chess websites. Abdallah Murad Al Mazmi, Tournament Director, attributed this milestone to the global interest in the event, which features 350 players from 60 countries — making it a truly international competition. He noted that the daily broadcast of matches on specialized global platforms draws over 250,000 views per day, with India leading in online engagement due to the country's strong player representation and deep-rooted chess culture. Al Mazmi added that the presence of many internationally titled players significantly enhanced the tournament's prestige. The Sharjah Masters is also officially recognized by FIDE, allowing participants to earn qualifying points for the World Cup. In a major achievement, China's Huang Renjie secured the title of International Master after earning 3.5 points — with five draws and one victory — achieving his final norm. He becomes the second player in this edition to earn a title, following Kazakhstan's Edgar Mamedov, who was awarded the Grandmaster title. This marks the first time in the tournament's history that two players have earned international titles during the event. Meanwhile, the eighth round of the championship was inaugurated by Dr. Sultan Al Taher, Board Member of the UAE Chess Federation and Head of Technical Affairs, along with Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, and Omar Fathi Afana, General Manager of FAST Contracting Company, a sponsor of the tournament. The penultimate round featured intense competition at the top of the leaderboard, as Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri and top-seed Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov shared the lead with 6 points. They were closely followed by a group of five players with 5.5 points: Serbians Aleksandar Indjic and Velimir Ivic, Armenian Shant Sargsyan, and Iranians Bardiya Daneshvar and Amin Tabatabaei. Fourteen players, including UAE's Salem Abdulrahman of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, trail just behind with 5 points.
