Sharjah Masters Chess C’ship off to perfect start

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the eighth edition of the Sharjah Masters International Chess Championship made perfect start on Saturday.

Organized by the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club, the tournament features participation of 350 players from 60 countries, including 84 titled players with high international rankings. The championship carries a prize pruse of $75,000.

The first round commenced on the top board in the presence of Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural and Chess Club and President of the Arab Chess Federation; Dr. Saif Salem Lakhreibani Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation; Omran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Mohammed Al Mudhahka, President of the Qatar Chess Federation and Vice President of the Arab Chess Federation; Hussein Al Shamsi, former Secretary-General of the UAE Chess Federation; along with several prominent sports officials.

While the higher-ranked players largely asserted their dominance, the first round also witnessed several surprising outcomes. Nineteen players secured victories, while 44 games concluded in draws.

Among the notable outcomes was the draw between top seed Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, 2022 World Rapid Chess Champion, and India’s S.P. Sethuraman on the first board. Iran’s Parham Maghsoodloo, third seed and former World Junior Champion, drew with Indian player Aditya Mittal on the third board. UAE national team player and Sharjah Club representative Salem Abdulrahman was defeated by China’s Dai Changren, while Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, the second seed, claimed a win over Kazakhstan’s Rinat Jumabayev on the second board.

In the second tournament, for players rated under 2500, 59 competitors recorded wins in the opening round, while 23 games ended in draws. In the third tournament, featuring players rated between 1900 and 1400, there were 49 wins and 12 draws.

Dr. Saif Salem Lakhreibani Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Chess Federation, expressed his satisfaction with the commencement of the eighth edition of the championship, which began in 2017 with just 50 participants and has grown steadily over the years to reach 350 players from 60 nations in the current edition.

He remarked, “The championship remains highly competitive and open to various outcomes. Sharjah has consistently demonstrated excellence in organizing this event with professionalism and distinction. The UAE Chess Federation remains committed to elevating the status of chess within the country, and this tournament serves as a global platform for intellectual competition and creative excellence among participants.”

He further added, “The presence of elite grandmasters across the various categories offers an invaluable opportunity for UAE players to engage, learn, and develop their skills, enhancing their capacity to compete at the highest levels.”

He concluded by saying, “The championship also contributes significantly to promoting the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah, not only through the participation of players from 60 nationalities but also through the global broadcast of the event. The generous prize fund has undoubtedly played a role in attracting top players, thereby elevating the tournament’s global standing.”