Historic first edition of Fujairah Global Chess Championship begins

The historic first edition of the Fujairah Global Chess Championship began on Monday, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah.

The event is being organized by the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club and will continue until September 2 at the club’s new headquarters.

The opening was attended by Dr Abdulla AAL Baraket, Chairman of the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club, along with members of the board,

Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Federation, Abdul Karim Hassan Al Marzouqi, Secretary General of the UAE Chess Federation, and a distinguished group of local and international chess officials.

Earlier, the organizing committee held a technical meeting during which the regulations, tournament draw, and all related technical matters were approved.

Among the standout participants in the tournament are Ukrainian Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, Indian champion Nihal Sarin, and UAE’s top-ranked chess player Salem Abdulrahman.

Dr. Barket, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, revealed that the games will be broadcast live on the official website of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) as well as on renowned global chess platforms. All games in the Superstar and Masters categories will be transmitted live, allowing chess enthusiasts to follow and enjoy them. In addition, selected video highlights from other competitions of the first Fujairah International Chess Championship will be shared.

Meanwhile, Polish Grandmaster Kacper Piorun expressed his admiration for the outstanding organization coinciding with the launch of the championship.

He highlighted that the new club headquarters meets world-class standards and represents a significant addition to the global chess scene.

He further noted that this will provide valuable opportunities for players to participate in tournaments hosted in Fujairah and will encourage FIDE to organize more prestigious events, praising the organizing committee’s efforts in ensuring all elements of success.