Alef International Chess Olympiad ends on successful note in Sharjah

The 22-day-long Alef International Chess Olympiad 2023, sponsored by the Alef Group, concluded in the Al Mamsha area of Sharjah on Monday in an atmosphere of excitement and high competitive spirit.

Considered as one of the largest chess events in the Arab world and the Middle East, organized by Alef Group in cooperation with the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, began on November 27 and witnessed the participation of over 1,000 players from different countries.

Alef International Chess Olympiad comprised various tournaments that included a large group of grandmasters, promising players, amateurs, in addition to the participation of school and university students and young club players.

The winners of the event were honoured in a glittering ceremony attended by Issa Ataya, CEO of Alef Group, Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, the Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club’s Board of Directors, Engineer Waheeb Jafar Al Zarooni, General Secretary of the club, Ragai Al Susi and other dignitaries in the presence of a large crowd. The Alef International Chess Olympiad also included many cultural and social events, including celebrations of the 52nd National Day and a cultural evening to celebrate World Arabic Language Day.

During the course, thrilling battles on the boards took place in the Super Stars Tournament.

Stars Open Chess Tournament, National Day Championship, and Future Championship.

Chinese grandmaster Yu Yangyi secured the Super Stars Tournament title with a total score of 52 points. The total prize money for this championship was $55,000.

Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin came in second with 45 points, while UAE’s grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Saleh claimed the third position with 38 points. Russian grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov finished fourth with 33 points.

The Super Stars Tournament featured classical, rapid, and blitz, each with its own time control and scoring system. It was concluded with an exciting blitz tournament. The grandmasters had previously engaged in a double-round classical tournament and a double-round rapid chess tournament.

In the classical section (time control: 40 moves in 90 minutes, 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an extra 30 seconds per move), Yu emerged as the standout player.

The formidable Chinese grandmaster secured victory in two out of the six games he played. Sarin, the Indian prodigy, achieved one win and drew five, maintaining an unbeaten streak in the other four games. Sjugirov managed one victory against Saleh but suffered a loss against Yu. Unfortunately, Saleh faced three defeats and was unable to secure a win in this section.

The rapid chess tournament (time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move) saw UAE ace Saleh claim victory. Saleh won three out of his six games and remained undefeated. Yu secured second place with two wins and four draws. Sarin secured third place with one win and three losses, while Sanan Sjugirov faced a challenging tournament, losing four games without securing a win.

In the concluding blitz tournament (3 minutes plus 2 seconds), Sarin showcased his rapid chess prowess, winning the competition. The young Indian grandmaster secured victory in five out of the twelve games played and remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, solidifying his reputation as a formidable blitz player.

The Stars Open Chess Championship, with 194 participants in fray, was won by Philippines’ Marvin Marcos.

India’s Mohammed Dilshad secured the second position, and the UAE’s Saud Badr Huwair Al Zarouni, a player from the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, claimed the third position.

Additionally, a National Day Championship took place with 35 Emirati players, in which Saif Ahmed Al Zarouni clinched the top place.

Saud Jaber took the second spot, and Zaid Sultan Al Taher finished third.

The Alef International Chess Olympiad concluded with the Future Championship, featuring 248 young players from juniors and youth categories, representing schools across the country.

India’s Taksh Sharma secured first place, followed by Khalifa Mohamed Al Hamedi, a player from the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, in second place, and Armenian player Mikael Margarian in third place. Additionally, 60 talented young players from schools and universities were honored during the event.