Doha: The Qatari chess team is competing in the 1st Fujairah Global Chess Championship, which runs until Sept. 2, 2025, with approximately 600 players from both genders, hailing from 75 countries, competing across three main categories.
According to Qatar News Agency, the championship boasts a total prize fund of USD 125,000, featuring the superstar division for players rated 2560 and above, including 44 grandmasters within the FIDE circuit, the world's strongest-ranked events. The master division is set for players rated above 2200, with around 330 participants, while the open division accommodates players rated below 2200.
The team from Qatar includes International Master (IM) Hussein Aziz, Khaled Al Jumaat, Hamad Al Kuwari, Turki Al Kuwari, Fahad Al Mansouri, Ibrahim Al Janahi, Saif Ahmed, Layan Al Qassabi, and Rawda Al Qassabi. Furthermore, International Arbiter (IA) Sara Al Mahmadi is poised to take part in the International Fair Play Seminar on the margins of the tournament from Aug. 28 to 31, 2025.
QNA reached President of the Qatar Chess Association, Mohammed Al Mudahka, who asserted that hopes are high for the national team to achieve noteworthy results throughout this participation, which is expected to yield significant gains amid the presence of a contingent of players ranked among the world's top 100 in chess.
Al Mudahka further indicated that all preparations are fully primed for those players, describing the tournament as one of the most powerful globally in terms of the average rating of the participating players. He noted that these competitions receive considerable global interest and are directly broadcast on FIDE's website, as well as other renowned global platforms.