The 4th World Mindsports Championships has seen more than 2,000 players from 23 countries competing for the titles, special prizes and over $100,000 in prize money at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), organisers have said. The “mind-bending tournament” is a first foray in the Middle East organised by Mindsports Academy (MSA) and hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
Grandmaster Bologan Victor from Moldova won the chess rapid competition while Leyssa bin Suhayl from the UK bagged the chess youth rapid event.
In scrabble, Thilina Elvitigala was awarded the champion for the senior category while Imadith Egodawatta bagged the junior event. Abdelrahman Aboughanima was the Arabic champion (senior) while Telfick Aboughanima won the junior category.
In eSports, Mohamed al-Yazidi won the ‘Fifa’ event while Team VC blue bagged the ‘Call of Duty.’
The bridge competition saw Firyal Wahab and Mohamed P Akhtar winning the mixed pairs while Abdullah Chaaban and Jehad al-Hajj taking the ‘Team’ 1-day friendly event. ‘Pairs’ went to Abdul Shaheid and Mehmoud A Fattah.
“Bringing the championship to Qatar was certainly the right choice as the venue is undoubtedly the best we have ever been in anywhere in the world. Qatar is friendly and welcoming and the city exciting, vibrant and full of interest,” MSA CEO Dave Brannan said in a statement.
QTA’s chief marketing and promotion officer Rashed al-Qurese said they are proud to have hosted the international mindsports community to experience first-hand Qatar’s authentic tourism offering.
To further grow Qatar’s sports tourism sub-sector, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is supporting the expansion of a range of sports events held in the country. QTA partnered with QOC to cross promote the emerging e-sports scene in Qatar.
In addition to the e-sports competitions, which took place at the Mindsports Championships, QOC organised a Fifa e-Sports Community Event recently.
Grandmaster Bologan Victor receiving his award from the organisers.
