Dr Sheikh Khaled Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi and other dignitaries during the ceremonial start of the Ali Saeed Abu Khalil International Chess Championship.

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

Commemorating the memory of one of the icons of Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, the third edition of the late Ali Saeed Abu Khalil International Chess Championship was launched on Thursday.

137 players from 16 countries are taking part in the championship, which will continue until December 28.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Sheikh Khaled Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, the President of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, along with members of the board of directors, in the presence of the sons of the late Ali Saeed Abu Khalil, Mammar Ali, Nawaf Ali, and several of his grandchildren.

The late Ali Saeed Abu Khalil is considered the father of chess in the state in general and the Sharjah Chess Club in particular.

He is also one of the sports figures who witnessed the sports movement in the UAE since the early seventies.

Ali Saeed Abu Khalil practiced many sports, and also held several positions in the UAE Basketball Federation for several terms.

He played a key role in the establishment of the UAE Chess Federation in 1976 and served as head of the technical body of the federation in 1992, where he founded a number of local and international championships in the UAE.

Imran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, the Vice Chairman of Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club’s Board of Directors, explained that the organization of the club for this tournament, named after the late Ali Abu Khalil, is a simple tribute to his great contributions, sincere efforts, and dedicated work throughout his long career in serving the youth and sports in the country.