Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Saleh will aim to fly the UAE flag high at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Uzbekistan.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The national chess team delegation left the UAE for Uzbekistan to participate in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, taking place in Samarkand.

The six-day-long World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships are being organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The delegation includes the national team player from Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, the International Grandmaster Salem Abdulrahman Saleh, accompanied by his technical team.

The tournament will witness an impressive line-up of renowned players, both current and former champions. In the Open section, the list of starts includes the current World Rapid and Blitz Champion and world number one, Magnus Carlsen, former world champion challengers and top players Ian Nepomniachtchi and Fabiano Caruana, as well as Levon Aronian and others. In the women's section, the current world champion, Ju Wenjun, will compete, as well as former world champions Alexandra Kosteniuk, Mariya Muzychuk, Tan Zhongyi, Antoaneta Stefanova, and others.

With a total prize fund of one million dollars at stake, with $700,000 for the Open and $300,000 for the Women's tournaments, this championship represents a pinnacle in the chess world.

The first competition to take place is the World Rapid, which will be played over three days and conclude on December 28. The event will be followed by a two-day World Blitz tournament on December 29 and 30.

With an impressive lineup of players and a large prize fund, the 2023 World Rapid and Blitz promises thrilling excitement and fierce competition amongst the top chess grandmasters from around the globe.

Dr. Sheikh Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qassimi, President of the Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club, expressed confidence in Salem Abdulrahman Saleh’s performance at the championship. Saleh is ranked 19th with 2680 points and has undergone rigorous preparation to face the world's chess elite.

 “The club has invested heavily in Salem's training, organizing numerous camps and international tournaments. Notably, Salem recently participated in the Alef Chess Olympiad and faced three of the world's top players. He further sharpened his skills through a five-day intensive training camp with renowned Egyptian Grandmaster Basem Amin.”

Dr. Sheikh Khalid emphasized the club's unwavering dedication to nurturing chess talent and raising Emirati chess to new heights. “Saleh’s participation in the World Championship reflects this commitment and embodies the club's belief in his potential to bring home glory,” he added.