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FIDE has announced that Mohammed al-Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Association (QCA) will oversee the next edition of the World Chess Olympiad to be held in September in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.Al Mudahka's appointment to oversee the World Olympiad comes in recognition of his efforts in supporting and developing chess internationally and the remarkable success of the World Championship hosted by Qatar in December.Samarkand will host the 46th Chess Olympiad from September 10 to 24, 2026. The city is currently undergoing intensive preparations to host the major event.Mohammed al-Mudahka expressed his pleasure at his appointment for one of the most important chess events in the world, expressing his gratitude for the great trust placed in him by the global chess community.The QCA president, who also serves as the Director of International Relations at FIDE, commended the significant work being done by FIDE, under the leadership of Arkady Dvorkovich, to elevate the game at all levels, develop FIDE competitions, and expand the game's reach in developing countries.Al-Mudahka explained that the upcoming strategy aims to continue advancing chess in Asia, and that Uzbekistan's hosting of the World Chess Olympiad is part of its efforts to support the global chess movement.He also announced the Qatari national team's participation in the upcoming Olympiad, noting that Qatar's presence in such major tournaments is crucial in every respect. He emphasized the association’s commitment to participating in the World Chess Olympiad to raise the level of its players.Al-Mudahka stressed that chess is a global game that encourages integrity, inclusion, and mutual respect, and contributes to fostering an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations. 

Grandmasters Vladislav Artemiev and Hans Niemann share the lead at the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship after day two, each scoring 7.5 points from nine games at the Sports and Events Complex of Qatar University in Doha Saturday. Four rounds will be played today in the Open section before a champion is decided.A half-point behind are four players: Magnus Carlsen, who bounced back after his first loss of the tournament to Artemiev in round seven; Alexey Sarana, undefeated so far; 14-year-old GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus; and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who completed a hat-trick by defeating World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju in the last round Saturday.Artemiev had a remarkable day, opening with a victory over Arjun Erigaisi before inflicting Carlsen’s sole defeat in nine rounds — a tactical masterpiece that saw the World No 1 blunder.**media[398356]**Carlsen initially refused a draw offer from Artemiev but looked increasingly frustrated as his position looked worse and he eventually resigned.As he walked off Carlsen lost his cool as the Norwegian was seen shoving aside a cameraperson pursuing him to record his reaction. As soon as the match got over, Carlsen was seen shaking his opponent’s hands, grabbing his blazer, and teeing off furiously. The FIDE cameraperson walked with him for a bit, only to see Carlsen turn towards him and slap the camera away, although it didn’t stop the former from following the chess great.**media[398357]**Carlsen was the subject of hushed murmurs on day one of the competition itself when he reportedly made officials and players wait, as the start of the Championship got delayed. Meanwhile, Artemiev’s remaining two games against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Sarana lasted for a total of 38 moves and were rather uneventful games — the latter with its 10 moves, of course, far more staid as compared to the somewhat imbalanced game against Vachier-Lagrave. Niemann also impressed, scoring three wins, starting with a victory over Indian wonderkid Goutham Krishna and following with key wins against Le Quang Liem and Alexander Shimanov. His creative pawn gambit in the Scandinavian Defense almost backfired but he quickly regained his advantage, converting flawlessly in equal endgames.**media[398358]**India’s young star Gukesh, initially modest about his prospects, has impressed with his resilience so far in the tournament, staying just one point behind the leaders along with Arjun Erigaisi (6.5 points) and 12 others, even as his compatriots R Praggnanandhaa and Nihal Sarin (both on six points) dropped to joint 20th. During the sixth round, Gukesh, playing black, faced a strong challenge from Anish Giri. Despite being cornered by the Dutch Grandmaster’s superior rook formation, Gukesh managed to secure a draw in 57 moves. He then drew with former European champion Alexey Sarana before winning against Spaniard David Anton in the day’s penultimate round.Gukesh’s only defeat came when he blundered on the 34th move with white against former world rapid champion Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan.Humpy Catches Zhu in Women’s RapidIn the women’s event, reigning rapid champion Koneru Humpy of India caught up with Zhu Jiner of China, both sitting on 6.5 points after eight rounds.Humpy surged to the top after winning three games and drawing one in round eight against Aleksandra Goryachkina in what was a topsy-turvy game. Humpy was quite dangerous with the Black pieces. In round 6, she won a game in Black after Yana Zhapova had a winning advantageAfter winning a comfortable White game in round 7 against Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, Humpy almost repeated her success against Goryachkina as she was lost at some point, but found a way to keep the game going and eventually end up in a winning position. Unfortunately for Humpy, she missed multiple chances to convert and had to settle for a draw.**media[398359]**Owing to her 4/4 start, Zhu Jiner decided to play pragmatically Saturday and drew her first three games by using some very solid, if not somewhat unambitious, opening lines.By doing so, she got her games against Aleksandra Goryachkina, Nino Batsiashvili, and Mariya Muzychuk out of the way, and with some renewed energy, she was able to defeat Divya Deshmukh in an endgame.There are nine players on 6/8, just a half point behind the two leaders. These players are Aleksandra Goryachkina, Lei Tingjie, Kateryna Lagno, Harika Dronavalli, Mariya Muzychuk, Afruza Khamdamova, Nino Batsiashvili, Meri Arabidze, Bat-Erdene Mungunzul and Chen Yining. 

Vladislav Artemiev (right) defeated World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen Saturday to move joint top of the standings with Hans Niemann at the FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship after day two at the Sports and Events Complex of Qatar University in Doha. Both Grandmasters are on 7.5 points from nine games, with four rounds remaining Sunday before the champion is decided. 

World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway will be the man to beat at the €1mn FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships where world champion Gukesh Dommaraju of India is feeling primed for a battling contest at the December 26-30 ‘chess festival’. Carlsen has won the rapid title five times and the blitz crown on eight occasions. The 35-year-old shared the blitz title with Ian Nepomniachtchi in New York last year, and will be aiming to defend his title in Doha. “I am here to win, as always,” Carlsen, said Thursday at a pre-event press conference. “I want to compete for the title, even though the competition will be fierce among all players,” he added. “For me, playing well in any format is important,” Gukesh, the reigning world champion in classical chess, said Thursday as hosts Qatar Chess Association (QCA) confirmed an entry list of 400 players from around the world. FIDE has allocated €700,000 in prize money for the Open category - divided equally between the Rapid and Blitz tournaments – and €300,000 for the Women’s category, also divided equally. Mohammed al-Mudahka, President of QCA and Vice-President of the Arab Chess Federation, Thursday said the championships will be hosted at the Sports and Events Complex of Qatar University. At the pre-event press conference, al-Mudahka Thursday was joined by FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich and world number one women’s player Ju Wenjun of China besides Carslen and Gukesh. Carlsen disclosed that his close association with QCA and al-Mudahka convinced him to rescind his decision not to play the World Rapid & Blitz Championships following a dress code debacle last year. “I have participated twice before in the Qatar Masters, as well as in the 2016 World Championships,” Carlsen said Thursday. “I like coming here. I have a good relationship with the President of the Qatar Chess Association Mohammed al-Mudahka, and this played a significant role in my participation in the tournament. My family likes it here too,” the Norwegian, who became a dad on September 27, added. “The results in the last edition (of Qatar Masters) were not satisfactory for me. All the competitors have a strong chance (this week) and the gap between the top-ranked players and the rest has narrowed, making the task difficult for everyone,” Carlsen noted. Carlsen pointed out that the integration of technology into the rules of chess is extremely important, but it must be used positively to serve the game, provided that mental fortitude and constant focus are maintained in order to find quick solutions. Carlsen, never short of an expression at press conferences, added that AI was making chess ‘boring’. “To give an honest answer, I think all of these (AI) tools are incredible for learning, and they were very exciting for top chess players at the start. Over time, it’s made the game harder, and honestly more and more boring. Kind of made it too easy to prep up. So, there’s always give and take with technology,” he said. Gukesh, the youngest male world champion and the third youngest to reach a rating of 2700 and the youngest to reach a rating of 2750, said there would be fierce competition among the players.**media[397583]**“Everyone is looking forward to this participation with great anticipation,” Gukesh said Thursday. “I am used to facing many young players, and the competition will certainly be very tough,” he added. “I had some good practice from the Global Chess League. I played a few rapid games against some very strong opponents. So, I’m happy to be here to play more rapid games. My strategy would be to just play fast, focus on each game, and make the most of it,” he said. But the Indian chess star quickly added: “I think, for me, playing well in any format is always important. I have been taking rapid and blitz a bit more seriously this year. That being said, I think rapid and blitz events have been slightly less of a priority than classical events for me.” The world champion said that he has benefited immensely from modern technology, which has developed his abilities, but he pointed out the need for caution. “For me, it’s mostly been positive and more. Something that (AI) helps me learn a lot of things quickly but also there are disadvantages. “Like it’s made preparations easier and in classical games it’s harder and harder to win games against opponents who are well-prepared,” Gukesh said. “But I enjoy working with computers and learning new ideas,’’ the 19-year-old added. China’s Ju Wenjun thrilled to be in Doha Chinese chess star Ju Wenjun, ranked number one in the world, said that she feels excited to be participating in the Doha event. “The tournament is a prominent event and an opportunity for participating players from all over the world to showcase their talents and abilities,” Ju Wenjun said Thursday. When asked about the role of AI and its impact on the game, the Chinese champion explained: “Without a doubt, the use of technology has contributed to honing the skills of both male and female players and has been extremely important, but caution and complete mental preparation are essential.” Besides Carlsen and Gukesh, this year’s iteration will feature the participation of the world’s elite players, including Russia’s Nepomniachtchi, American Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri of the Netherlands, Wesley So, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa of India, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus of Turkiye, as well as Alexander Grischuk of Russia and Vasyl Ivanchuk of Ukraine, the winner of the 2016 World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha. Representing Qatar are International Master Hussein Aziz, Khalid al-Jumaat, Hamad al-Kuwari and Ibrahim al-Janahi. In the Women’s category, Wenjun will headline the field, alongside compatriot Tan Zhongyi, the world No 2, Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan, Anna Muzychuk, the winner of the 2016 World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, and her sister Mariya Muzychuk, in addition to Kateryna Lagno of Russia and India’s Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. The event will feature a total of 130 female players. Doha last hosted the championship in 2016, when Vasyl Ivanchuk of Ukraine won the World Rapid Chess Championship, and Sergey Karjakin of Russia clinched the World Blitz Chess Championship title with the participation of 120 International Masters and 36 International Masters. 

Qatar is ready to host the World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 from Dec 26 to 30, this was announced by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Association (QCA) and chairman of the organizing committee of the tournament on Saturday.Mr Al-Mudahka was joined by Hamad Mohammed Al-Tamimi, Executive Director of QCA and the Tournament Director at a press conference at the Rosewood Hotel in Lusail."The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025 are taking place in Doha, Qatar from 25 to 30 December, bringing together the world’s elite chess talent for a thrilling end-of-year showdown," Al-Mudahka said on Saturday."The tournament will be held at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University," he added. "This edition features both Open and Women’s events in Rapid and Blitz formats, with a total prize fund of over €1,000,000. We are feeling proud that Doha returns as host after nine years, underscoring Qatar’s growing stature in the chess world," Al-Mudahka said.“Doha is now the only city to host the World Rapid & Blitz Championship twice, a milestone for chess and for sports in Qatar. It reflects our deep passion for the game and our commitment to delivering excellence. We are proud to welcome the world’s greatest players back to Doha, where ambition, tradition, and the future of our sport meet,” Al-Mudahka said.World Champion Gukesh D and Magnus Carlsen will join over 360 players who have confirmed their participation in the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, it was announced earlier by FIDE.The event, which will take place from December 25 to 30, brings together a field featuring multiple world champions, most of the sport’s highest-rated competitors, and rising stars.A total of 233 players registered for the Blitz Open and 230 for the Rapid. After missing out on the crown in the Rapid and sharing gold in the Blitz in the previous edition in New York, Magnus Carlsen returns to the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz. He will try to unseat the 2024 World Rapid champion, Volodar Murzin, who has had strong tournament performances throughout the year.World Champion Gukesh D would also feature at the event. His participation is expected to draw a lot of interest from chess fans. In particular, his superb result in Zagreb earlier this year indicates he will be one of the favorites in Rapid.Many seasoned elite players such as 2024 World Blitz co-champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, and  Levon Aronian have also confirmed their participation.Challenging them will be a new generation of contenders seeking to disrupt established hierarchies: Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa R, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, and Ediz Gürel to name just a few.FIDE Women’s Rapid and Blitz will also see the best in the world taking part. Headlined by Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, the competition will see 130 players, including heavyweights Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Humpy Koneru and more. Anna Muzychuk, who won both the Women’s Rapid and Blitz in Doha in 2016, will also be there, together with her sister, Mariya.

Qatar's national Chess team player Jo Shen won the gold medal in the Women's Rapid Chess event at the ongoing Arab Chess Championship, hosted in Kuwait until November 25. The tournament features 87 players from 18 Arab countries, under the supervision of the Arab Chess Federation.Jo Shen claimed first place in the overall standings of the rapid event after securing a perfect 9 points from 9 rounds, ahead of Jordan's Ruba Al Qudah, who finished second with 7 points, while Algeria's Lina Nasr came third with 6.5 points, earning the bronze medal. Lebanon's Nadia Fawaz ranked fourth with 5.5 points, equal to Jordan's Boshra Alshaeby, but edged her on tiebreaks, followed by Palestine's Iman.Qatar's Ghada Al Khalifi finished in 16th place with 2 points.Jo Shen had previously won double gold in the women's rapid and blitz events at the Arab Games held in Algeria in July 2023, topping the standings with 7 points.In the remaining results for Qatar's players, International Master Hussein Aziz finished 16th in the rapid event with 4.5 points, the same tally as Hamad Al Kuwari, who ranked 19th, trailing on tiebreaks.The championship continues today with the start of the Blitz Chess competition.Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), President of the Qatar Chess Federation, Mohammed Al Mudahka, expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, noting that participation in the tournament offered players valuable exposure to different playing styles, in addition to improving their international ratings and achieving strong results.Al Mudahka emphasized that the championship features some of the Arab World's top players, presenting an excellent opportunity to boost international rankings for Qatar's team. He added that the tournament has become one of the most important events on the Arab Chess Federation's calendar, as it provides a truly competitive environment in classical, rapid, and blitz formats and awards international titles to the champions.

World Champion Gukesh D and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen are among more than 360 players who have confirmed their participation in the FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championship in Doha. The event, scheduled from December 25 to 30, brings together a field featuring multiple world champions, many of the sport’s top-rated competitors, and a strong group of rising stars.A total of 233 players have registered for the Blitz Open and 230 for the Rapid. After missing out on the Rapid crown and sharing gold in the Blitz at last year's edition in New York, Carlsen – who also became a father this year – returns to the World Rapid & Blitz looking to reclaim both titles. He will attempt to dethrone the reigning World Rapid champion, Volodar Murzin, who has enjoyed consistently strong results throughout 2024.Gukesh has likewise confirmed his attendance, and his participation is expected to generate significant public interest among large Indian expatriates in Qatar. His outstanding performance in Zagreb earlier in the year has positioned him as one of the leading contenders in the Rapid discipline.**media[384164]**Many seasoned elite players – including 2024 World Blitz co-champion Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So and Levon Aronian – have also confirmed their entry. They will be challenged by a new wave of ambitious talents aiming to shake up the established order, such as Vincent Keymer, Arjun Erigaisi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Praggnanandhaa R, Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus, and Ediz Gurel, among others.Qatar’s chess enthusiasts will also be pleased to see legendary figures like Alexander Grischuk and Vasyl Ivanchuk – who won the World Rapid in Doha in 2016 – returning to compete. The Women’s Rapid and Blitz tournaments will likewise feature the world’s best. Headlined by Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, the competition includes 130 participants, with top names such as Zhu Jiner, Lei Tingjie, Aleksandra Goryachkina and Humpy Koneru. Anna Muzychuk, who won both the Women’s Rapid and Blitz titles in Doha in 2016, will also compete alongside her sister, Mariya.“The lineup shows the immense strength and magnetism of the World Rapid & Blitz,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. “We are pleased to see so many strong players in both the Open and the Women’s competition confirming their participation. The FIDE World Rapid & Blitz is traditionally one of the most exciting and most watched chess events of the year, and we expect that tradition to continue. I’d like to thank the local organizing committee for sparing no effort in making it a great event,” he added.“The field is tremendously strong, and it is going to be a real chess feast. Once again, FIDE has managed to gather nearly all the world’s best players, and I am looking forward to great sporting drama, both in my FIDE capacity and as a lifelong chess fan,” said FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky.“Doha is now the only city to host the World Rapid & Blitz Championship twice, a milestone for chess and for sports in Qatar. It reflects our deep passion for the game and our commitment to delivering excellence. We are proud to welcome the world’s greatest players back to Doha, where ambition, tradition and the future of our sport meet,” said Mohammed al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Federation.The championship will take place at the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University and offers a prize fund of more than €1mn across both the Open and Women’s competitions. Doha previously hosted the event in 2016, when Ivanchuk won the Rapid title and Karjakin captured the Blitz crown. The event returns to Qatar after nine years, underscoring the country’s growing stature in the global chess community.

The inaugural edition of the Qatar Rapid Team Chess Championship 2025 will kick off Thursday at the Qatar Chess Training Centre, with 24 teams in action over two days.Organised by the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), the tournament is open to all FIDE-rated players and will follow the Swiss system format over seven rounds, with each game timed at 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move. The first three rounds are scheduled for Thursday, while the final rounds will take place Friday.A total prize pool of QR21,000 will be awarded to top-performing teams.The championship features a mixed-gender team format, requiring each team to field four players – three men on the open boards and one woman on a designated board. Notably, only titled players (FM, IM, GM) are allowed to play on Board 1, although female players holding these titles may also compete on either Board 1 or the women’s board.Ahead of the launch, the organising committee concluded preparations. A technical meeting with team representatives and the referee panel was held to review tournament regulations. The referees’ briefing was led by Dr Yousef al-Muhasna, Head of the Referees Committee, along with International Arbiters Sara al-Mohannadi and Hussein al-Haddad.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new global competition set up by Norway Chess that will crown a “World Combined Champion” across three time formats – Fast Classic, Rapid and Blitz, organisers said Wednesday.The tournament series, called the Total Chess World Championship Tour, will feature four events a year in cities around the world, with the overall winner taking the FIDE title.A one-off pilot event is scheduled for late 2026 before the full championship season begins in 2027.“We are looking for the total chess player – a versatile, tactically intelligent and technically skilled athlete who adapts to multiple time controls,” Norway Chess CEO Kjell Madland said. “It will be a game-changer, both for the players and the fans.”“We expect this (Total Chess World Championship Tour), to become one of the most prestigious events in the entire chess calendar,” said Madland.He said that the World Championships, which is held in the Classical format, and the newly-conceptualised Total Chess World Championship Tour will complement each other as it had been officially approved by FIDE.“The new championship will not replace or affect any existing FIDE World Championship titles,” he said.GAMES SHORTENED TO 45 MINUTESThe Fast Classic format shortens traditional games to 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move – part of an effort to make chess more appealing for broadcasters and online audiences.The launch comes months after former world champion Magnus Carlsen, also Norwegian, unveiled a separate “Freestyle Chess” tour, which uses a randomised starting position inspired by Fischer Random chess.That tour has not been sanctioned by FIDE, highlighting tensions between the world governing body and independent organisers seeking to modernise the sport. World number one Carlsen, the undisputed world champion from 2013-23, opted out of defending his title citing a lack of motivation and focused more on Freestyle chess and faster time controls, winning the Esports World Cup title this year.FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich welcomed the initiative.“We are always looking for ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what chess can be,” he said Wednesday.“This new tour complements the traditional World Chess Championship and will attract both existing fans and new audiences.”Carlsen also reacted positively to the move.“This seems like a well-thought-out step to further develop chess. Bringing multiple formats together under a single title will provide a more complete view of the players’ strengths, while the time controls suit today’s players and audience,” he said.Norway Chess said it was inviting potential host cities, investors and partners to join what it called a long-term collaboration with FIDE.The Total Chess World Championship Tour will offer a prize pool of a minimum of $750,000 for each of the first three locations while the fourth event will award at least $450,000 to a four-player field.

The University Rapid Chess Championship, organised by the Qatar University Sports Federation in collaboration with the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), concluded at the Community College gymnasium.Mahjoub Mohammed of Doha University of Science and Technology claimed first place in the men’s individual competition with nine points, ahead of teammate Muhannad Hussein Mohammed in second, while Qatar University’s Yousef al-Janahi finished third.In the women’s individual category, Qatar University’s Sana Nour Kartel emerged champion. Victoria Honordez of Doha University of Science and Technology secured second place, with her colleague Ghalia al-Naimi completing the podium.Doha University of Science and Technology also dominated the team events, taking first place in both the men’s and women’s team championships. Qatar University placed second in both categories, while Community College finished third in the men’s event and Hamad Bin Khalifa University claimed third in the women’s.Mohammed al-Mudhahka, President of the QCA, praised the high level of participation, noting that the rapid chess format showcased students’ mental and cognitive abilities. He stressed the Federation’s commitment to promoting chess culture in universities and strengthening cooperation with sports federations across the country.

The second annual Qatar Classic Chess Cup is underway, bringing together 30 of Qatar's top male and female chess players. The tournament, which runs until September 13th at the Qatar Training Center, will be a seven-round Swiss system event.The opening match featured a face-off between Al-Ustad Hussain Aziz and his opponent, Ali Al-Nuaimi, presided over by Muhammad al-Mudahka, president of Qatar Chess Association (QCA). Leading the men's division is the top-ranked player, Al-Kabeer Al-Kawari, alongside fellow national team members like Irfan Muhammad and Hamad al-Kuwari. The women's tournament features eight players, including Salama al-Khalifi and Ayesha al-Khalifi.Al-Mudahka told Qatar News Agency that he was thrilled about the tournament, which is using the new International Chess Federation law for the first time. He said the event is a key part of the federation's annual calendar and a way to identify the best players to represent Qatar in future international competitions. Hamad Al-Tamimi, the Executive Director of the federation, echoed this, noting that the tournament offers national team players a crucial chance to prepare for upcoming events and to hone their skills in a competitive setting.

The Qatar chess team is competing in the 1st Fujairah Global Chess Championship, which runs until September 2, with approximately 600 players from both genders, hailing from 75 countries, competing across three main categories.With a total prize fund of $125,000, the contests feature 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 for players rated above 2200, with around 330 participants, as well as the open division for players rated below 2200.The Qatar team 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.In addition, International Arbiter (IA) Sara al-Mahmadi is set to participate in the International Fair Play Seminar on the margins of the tournament from August 28-31.The Qatar News Agency (QNA) spoke with Qatar Chess Association (QCA) president Mohammed al-Mudahka, who asserted that hopes are high for the national team to achieve incredible results throughout this participation, which is set 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, with some 600 players coming from a wide swath of countries.He noted that these competitions receive tremendous global interest and are directly broadcast on FIDE’s website, as well as other renowned global platforms.