Stage set for inaugural edition of Fujairah Global Chess Championship

The inaugural edition of the Fujairah Global Chess Championship marks a historic milestone as the first-ever open world chess championship hosted in the Emirate.

Officially recognised by FIDE (International Chess Federation) and the championship will also serve as part of the qualifying cycle for the World Cup 2025.

Hosted by Fujairah Chess and Culture Club, first edition of the championship will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

The event will begin on Aug.25 and conclude on Sept.2.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at the club’s new headquarters, attended by Dr Abdulla AAL Barakat, Chairman of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club, Ivan Syrovy, Chairman of the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission, along with members of the club’s Board of Directors.

The conference opened with words of gratitude and appreciation to the Crown Prince of Fujairah for his generous patronage of the championship, stressing that this support paves the way for the event to emerge at the highest levels of organization and competitive excellence.

In his remarks, Dr. Barkat hailed Sheikh Mohammed’s unwavering support for sports and athletes has long been a source of inspiration, and his patronage of this global event reflects a commitment to excellence that continues to shape Fujairah’s role on the international sporting stage.

Dr Barkat described the championship as one of the strongest global tournaments, based on the average ratings of the participating players.

He pointed out that hosting this event reflects the prestigious status of the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club on the international stage.

“Holding the championship at the club’s new complex, with the participation of elite world-ranked champions alongside distinguished Emirati players, supports the club’s efforts in cooperation with the UAE Chess Federation to enhance the global standing of Emirati chess,” he said.

Alongside the main event, Fujairah Chess and Cultural Club will also host of FIDE International Arbiters’ Commission meeting and the first-ever Fair Play Seminar in the Middle East.

Workshops and development programmes have been organised to nurture both players and arbiters, ensuring that the legacy of this tournament will endure by strengthening the foundations of chess across the UAE and the region.

The Organising Committee also extended appreciation to all official sponsors and partners.

For his part, Syrovy announced that the championship will feature the participation of 600 players from 75 countries, divided into three main categories: the Super Star category for players rated 2560 and above, with 44 players competing as part of the FIDE Circuit—considered the strongest globally; the Masters category for players rated above 2200, with around 330 participants; and the Open category for players rated under 2200, which will see notable participation from Emirati players including Ammar Al Sidrrani, Rouda Al Sarkal, Imran Al Hosani, and Abdulrahman Al Taher.

Among them are over 30 of the world’s top-ranked players, making this one of the strongest and most prestigious open tournaments ever staged.

The conference concluded by affirming that the championship represents a significant addition to UAE sports in general, and to chess in particular, serving as a perfect opportunity for local players to compete with and gain experience from the world’s strongest ranked players.

The Fair Play Seminar’s programme will offer a comprehensive exploration of fair play from both a theoretical and practical perspective, addressing the challenges of safeguarding tournaments from unethical behavior.

The carefully curated sessions will cover a broad range of topics, including:

The legal framework for Fair Play: understanding the rules, policies, and enforcement mechanisms that govern fair competition in chess.

Anti-Cheating Regulations: Detailed examination of FIDE and other governing bodies’ regulations, including procedures for identifying, preventing, and responding to cheating incidents.

Statistical analysis in fair play: Professor Regan’s statistics– a presentation on Professor Kenneth Regan’s internationally acclaimed statistical models for detecting irregularities in player performance.

Technical Devices and their Usage: insight into the tools and technologies employed to monitor games, detect cheating, and maintain secure playing environments.