Qatar Railways company (Qatar Rail), in collaboration with the Qatar Chess Association, successfully concluded the Qatar Rail Chess Open Tournament 2023, held from July 17 to 20, coinciding with the celebration of world Chess Day on July 20.
This tournament exemplifies Qatar Rail's commitment to social responsibility and our strategy to organise engaging community activities at Doha Metro stations to build a stronger sense of community within its stations.
The qualifying stage took place over two days (July 17 and 18) at Qatar Chess Training Centre, with participants divided into two groups and a knockout system used to determine the qualifiers.
The finals, which witnessed intense competition among eight players, were held at Al Bidda Station on July 20. The station hosted the exciting matches and the crowning ceremony, where the winners were recognised by officials from Qatar Rail and the Qatar Chess Association.
The tournament attracted a large number of participants, including professionals and chess enthusiasts of different ages and nationalities, who showcased their skills and strategic thinking throughout the tournament.
Ajlan Eid al-Enazi, chief of strategy and business development at Qatar Rail stated, “We are pleased with the high level of participation and enthusiasm shown since the beginning of the tournament. It has been an exceptional tournament on all levels, and we extend our congratulations to the winners. The successful organization of the tournament enhances our ability to provide diverse community experiences and foster communication among individuals within the metro stations. Our investment in such events reflects our commitment to offering unique travel experiences for our customers within the stations.”
He added, “We remain committed to further enhancing the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram networks as permanent destinations for residents and visitors alike, by organizing and hosting various events. These events play a significant role in our strategy to transform the stations to preferred destinations throughout the year.”
Mohammed Ahmed al-Madhahka, president of the Qatar Chess Association, added: “We are proud to collaborate with our partners at Qatar Rail in organizing this successful tournament. We had high expectations for this tournament, considering the significant participation and fierce competition. We appreciate the fruitful cooperation with Qatar Rail and thank them for their continuous support in promoting the game within the community and encouraging people to engage in chess. We look forward to continuing and developing our cooperation in this field and organizing more exceptional events.”
Winner of the competition with officials.
A game during the competition.
