UAE’s Salem wins Sharjah International Chess Championship’s Rapid event

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

UAE Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Mohamed Saleh emerged victorious in the 27th edition of the Sharjah International Chess Championship 2022 - Rapid Section.

The Sharjah International Chess Championship was held under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and was organised by Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club.

Locked in a tough battle on the board, Salem held his nerve to win the coveted title. Salem secured 8 points from 9 rounds with 7 victories and two draws. The victory in the Sharjah International Chess Championship also helped Salem gain an increase in his international Rapid ranking by 20 points.

Egyptian Grandmaster Adly Ahmed finished second while Adam Tukhaev (Ukraine) settled for third place. The event was organised by the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, with the participation of 200 players, including 31 international stars representing 35 countries from across the world.

The prizes were awarded in the presence of Sheikh Saud Bin Abdulaziz Almualla, President of the Arab Chess Federation and Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ihsan Turdialiev, Vice President of the Uzbekistan Chess Federation and Director of the Tashkent International Chess Academy, Engineer Wahib Jaafar Al Zarouni, Chairman of the Planning Committee of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club and Omar Noman Al Ali, Assistant Secretary-General.

Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, expressed his happiness with the success of the tournament and congratulated club player Salem Abdul Rahman for winning the 27th edition of the Sharjah International Chess Championship 2022, despite a great field of international players.

Nuaimi said: ‘Salem has achieved a lot in his career, and has the potential to achieve more on the world stage’. Nuaimi stressed that the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club uses all of its resources to prepare Salem and other players of the club at the highest level by organising many camps and international tournaments in accordance with a well-studied academic plan.

"The club always strives to help players reach the top positions through the plans and goals set by the board of directors, in a way that contributes to the advancement of Emirati chess," he added:

Waheeb Jaafar Al Zarooni, Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee at the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, said: "The Sharjah International Chess Tournament was very popular on the live broadcast platforms, through which the matches and the opening and closing ceremonies were broadcast, which reflects the growing interest around the world in the international tournaments organised by the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club."

The Organising Committee of the tournament also allocated special prizes for the players. International Master and Abu Dhabi Chess & Culture Club’s Omran Al Hosani was adjudged as the best UAE player, while Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club’s Hamad Bader won the emerging SCCC talent award.