Qatari Chess Team Competes at Arab Championship in Kuwait

The Qatari national chess team has commenced its participation in the Arab Chess Championship, taking place in Kuwait from November 20 to November 25, 2023. The tournament features 87 players from 18 Arab countries and is organized under the auspices of the Arab Chess Federation.

Men’s and Women’s Division Progress

In the men’s competition, Qatari player Hussein Aziz faced a challenging start, losing his first-round match to Aghid Miro from Syria. However, he quickly recovered, securing his first point by defeating Bader Al Hajri from Kuwait in the second round. Aziz is set to meet Mohammed Saeed from the United Arab Emirates in the upcoming third round.

Teammate Hamad Al Kuwari also experienced an initial setback, losing to Yasser Hajji of Morocco in the first round. Al Kuwari bounced back with a win against Hussein Suleiman of Kuwait in round two, placing him in a match against Ali Laith Al Othman from Iraq in round three.

The women’s competition saw Ghada Al Khalifi struggle in her opening matches, losing to Jana Zaki of Egypt and Khadija Al Mutairi from Morocco. Al Khalifi is scheduled to compete against Anah Al Issaie from Oman in the third round.

Significance of the Championship

Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Federation, emphasized the importance of this championship for the Qatari players, highlighting the presence of many top competitors from the Arab world. He stated that the event presents a valuable opportunity for Qatari players to enhance their international ratings.

Al Tamimi further noted that the Arab Chess Championship has gained recognition as a premier event on the calendar of the Arab Chess Federation, praised for its high technical level, effective organization, and competitive spirit across various formats, including classical, rapid, and blitz chess. Champions of the tournament will also have the opportunity to earn international titles.

In addition to the classical rounds, Qatar is also participating in the rapid and blitz events. Al Tamimi expressed confidence that the players will achieve positive results and gain significant experience by competing against diverse styles and strategies from different chess schools.