March 11 Chess Festival ends on successful note in Al Ain

The Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club at Kanad Hospital in Al Ain organized the 11th of March Chess Festival during the third edition of the event.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, was born on March 11, 1961.

This date holds a cherished memory for the nation and the people of the UAE.

The event continues the joint cooperation agreement signed between the club and Kanad Hospital in Al Ain in 2024, aiming to promote community initiatives and spread the sport of chess across various community institutions.

The festival was held in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Council Hall at the oldest hospital in Al Ain, as part of a sports and community event that reflects the collaboration between health and sports institutions in serving the community and promoting intellectual and cultural activities.

The Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club had signed a cooperation agreement with Kanad Hospital in 2024.

Youssef Al-Afreit Al-Kuwaiti, Board Member and Treasurer of the club, stated that the club continues its journey towards leadership and excellence by launching sports and community initiatives that contribute to promoting chess and enhancing its presence in society. This is part of the club’s mission to establish itself as a community-focused sports institution dedicated to serving society and developing intellectual skills across all age groups.

The festival was inaugurated by Youssef Saeed Al-Afreit Al-Kuwaiti, Treasurer of the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, and Omar Al-Waswasi, Board Member and Head of the Marketing and Community Partnerships Committee, alongside Dr. Richard Bramble, CEO of Kanad Hospital, and Raouf Kennedy, son of the hospital’s owner. The opening reflected the spirit of cooperation between the sports and medical institutions.

The festival featured intense competition across nine rounds under the Swiss system. The final results awarded Wafiya Al-Maamari, the UAE Women’s Chess Champion and player of the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club, as the Best Emirati Female Player, while Amar Al-Sadrani, UAE Champion, received the Best Emirati Male Player award.