UAE’s Salem and Sedrani impress at Fujairah Global Chess Championship

The inaugural Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, continues with intense competition that reflects the stature of the world-class players taking part.

The event organized by the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club under the supervision of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), with around 600 players from 70 countries competing.

The UAE players managed to deliver outstanding performances despite the difficulty of the competition, showcasing a remarkable leap in quality.

UAE national team player and Arab champion, Salem Abdulrahman Saleh, collected three valuable points that placed him mid-table after an impressive victory over Spain’s Eduardo Iturrizaga, along with four draws and a single loss.

Meanwhile, national team and Fujairah Club player Ammar Al Sedrani continued his strong showing despite the tough challenges, drawing against India’s Srinash Das to raise his tally to 2.5 points, while also boosting his rating by 15 points.

Among the standout results, Armenian player Volodya Torosyan topped the Open category at the end of sixth round with six points, achieving a perfect score by winning all his games.

China’s GM Zhu Jiner maintained her unbeaten run after drawing with American Andrew Hong, bringing her total to 4 points with four draws and two wins, without a single loss.

In the Masters competition, American Hardaway Brewington leads with 5.5 points, followed by Sweden’s Vitaly Sivuk with 5 points — the same tally as Argentina’s Faustino Oro, nicknamed the “Messi of Chess,” and Niso Shashin.

In this context, Dr. Abdullah Aal Baraket, first vice-president of the International Federation for Chess Composition and Chairman of the Championship’s Supreme Organizing Committee, confirmed that the tournament delivers a high technical level, reflecting the caliber of participants and the diversity of their chess schools.

He noted that the upcoming decisive rounds will intensify the competition and raise the excitement inside the halls.

He also wished all players success, particularly the UAE national team members, expressing his confidence in their ability to continue delivering strong performances and increasing their points tally.