With a strong field of players from around the globe, including world No 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway and American star Hikaru Nakamura, next week’s Qatar Masters 2023 will be nothing short of a feast for chess fans.
The Qatar Masters 2023 – to be held from October 11 to 20 at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall – will feature a strong field of players from 42 countries, Mohamed al-Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Association (QCA), announced on Tuesday.
A total of 250 male and female players will appear in the tournament including 62 Grandmasters. Sixteen Arab countries will also be represented at the tournament where 76 Indian players are set to be seen in action.
The Qatar Masters – previously held in 2014 and 2015 – is more than just a top-level chess tournament for the QCA. It is also a chance for the local organising committee to showcase the progress that has been made in the development of chess in Qatar in recent years, al-Mudahka said on Tuesday.
“The federation has been working hard to promote chess at all levels, from grassroots programmes for children to tournaments for experienced players from around the region and the world. Our event Qatar Masters is a culmination of this effort, and it is an opportunity to show the world that Qatar is a serious contender in the world of chess.”
“One of the exciting aspects of the Qatar Masters is that this event is an opportunity for Qatar and Arab players to shine, learn and grow. The federation has been working hard to develop young Qatari talent, and the Qatar Masters is a chance for these players to test themselves against the best and learn from them,” QCA chief added.
Al-Mudahka said that a number of players will move from the Asian Games – currently being held in the Chinese city of Hangzhou – to Doha, while the rest of the male and female players will join after the complete assignments at the European Club Championship currently being held in Albania as well as the American Championship. “After the tournament was held in Doha in 2014 and 2015, it was not easy to bring back this tournament to the international calendar. We aspire to organise the tournament on an annual basis. We hope to receive great support in order to maintain the format of the tournament in the coming years,” al-Mudahka said.
Al-Mudahka is hoping Qatar Masters will help to inspire the next generation of Qatari chess players. “By seeing Qatari players competing at the highest level, young people will be more likely to take up the game,” he said. “The federation is also targeting to have some good players who will be ready to represent Qatar in the Doha Asian Games in 2030. This is an ambitious goal, but it is one that is achievable with hard work and dedication,” the QCA chief said.
“The federation has been organising a number of chess tournaments and conducting workshops in recent years, and it is partnering with private sectors to reach a wider audience,” he said.
“The Qatar Chess Association is committed to making chess a more popular and accessible sport in Qatar. The Qatar Masters 2023 is a major step forward in this goal. The tournament is a chance to show the world that Qatar is a serious contender in the world of chess, and yes, it is also a chance to inspire the next generation of Qatari chess players,” he added.