Chess

OSLO: World champion Gukesh Dommaraju secured a historic first classical win over Magnus Carlsen on Sunday at the Norway Chess 2025 tournament, prompting an uncharacteristic outburst from the Norwegian legend.

Carlsen had dominated much of the tense encounter in Stavanger, keeping Gukesh under constant pressure. But with time running low, a rare blunder turned the tables and handed the 18-year-old Indian prodigy a winning advantage.

Visibly frustrated, Carlsen slammed his fist on the table before offering Gukesh a quick handshake, apologising for his reaction, and storming off.

“I mean, (the win was) not the way I wanted it to be, but okay, I’ll take it,” Gukesh told Chess.com. “…I’ve also banged a lot of tables in my career.”

Despite the loss, Carlsen remains atop the tournament standings, while Gukesh’s landmark victory adds another highlight to his meteoric rise in the chess world.(Reuters)

Former world chess champion Magnus Carlsen was held to a draw by over 143,000 online players in a unique global match hosted by Chess.com.

Titled “Magnus Carlsen vs. The World,” the match began on April 4 and saw the 34-year-old Norwegian face a crowd-sourced team of amateurs who voted collectively on each move. Both sides had 24 hours per move, and the game lasted more than six weeks before ending in a stalemate on Monday.

“I felt that I was a little bit better, early in the opening,” Carlsen said in a post-match video. “Honestly, since then, they haven’t given me a single chance.”

Carlsen, widely considered one of the greatest players in history, held the world title from 2013 to 2023. He joins other grandmasters in testing themselves against mass opponents—Garry Kasparov played over 50,000 in 1999, while Viswanathan Anand faced around 70,000 last year, according to news agency NTB.

(Source: AFP)

DOHA: The Qatar Chess Association (QCA) has officially announced the details of its upcoming local Open Blitz and Rapid Chess Championship, set to take place in Doha from Friday through May 17. The event promises high energy and broad participation, with approximately 120 players—men and women—set to compete across two categories.

Rapid and Blitz Rounds Set to Engage Young Talent

The championship will be played under the Swiss system format. The Rapid Chess competition, specifically for the Under-16 category, will consist of seven rounds, while the Blitz event will feature nine fast-paced rounds, adding intensity to the tournament.

According to QCA Executive Director Hamad Al Tamimi, the tournament aligns with the association’s strategy to strengthen community partnerships and promote wider participation in chess across Qatar.

Broad Participation and Community Engagement

Al Tamimi noted that this championship is witnessing strong participation in both categories, with a significant presence of Qatari team members from previous events. He also highlighted the growing interest among spectators and the local chess community.

He emphasized that the QCA is actively working to popularize chess by hosting tournaments in public venues such as shopping malls, aiming to spread the culture of the game and increase its accessibility across Doha.

Building a Future Generation of Champions

“This type of event is crucial for building a new generation of skilled players who can represent Qatar on the international stage,” Al Tamimi said. “We are committed to fostering talent and enhancing the competitive spirit among youth, both male and female.”

With strong grassroots engagement and strategic outreach, the QCA continues to position itself as a driving force behind the growth of chess in Qatar.

Doha: The Qatar Chess Association successfully organized the second edition of the Government Primary Schools Chess Championship, held as part of the “Naqla” project.

The initiative, developed in partnership with the Ministries of Sports and Youth, and Education and Higher Education, welcomed 280 young players from 12 schools across the country.

The event featured two separate tournaments — one for boys’ schools and another for girls’ schools — each conducted over five competitive rounds.

Mohammed Al-Mudahka, President of QCA, emphasized the significance of the event, noting that the tournament is part of the ongoing “Chess in Schools” program.

“This initiative aims to promote chess among young students, expand the pool of competitive players at the grassroots level, and increase the number of players registered with the International Chess Federation (FIDE),” he stated.

Al Mudahka also praised the impressive skill levels and understanding of the game demonstrated by the young participants.

Executive Director of QCA, Hamad Al Tamimi, highlighted the importance of QCA’s partnership with key ministries in developing the championship.

He noted that the tournament stages were highly competitive, revealing promising new talents who are expected to strengthen Qatar’s chess foundation in the coming years.

Al Tamimi also extended his gratitude to all participating schools for their support and efforts in encouraging their primary-level students to take part, making the event a resounding success.

The QCA continues to focus on its strategic vision of broadening the reach of chess across the country.

It regularly organizes training and educational programs that teach the benefits of chess at school stages, methods of instruction, arbitration rules, and tournament organization. These efforts also include training teachers to coach school teams and hosting annual inter-school competitions, laying a solid foundation for the future of chess in Qatar.

Shanghai: The Organizing Committee of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Doha 2025 held a meeting with officials from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on the sidelines of the Women’s World Championship currently being held in Shanghai, China, which continues until April 25.

President of the Qatar Chess Federation Mohammed Al Mudahka said that the meetings with FIDE officials focused on organizational preparations for Qatar’s hosting of the World Championship from December 25 to 31.

He noted that during his stay in Shanghai, he had discussed several topics related to the development of the World Championship and the Qatar Chess Federation’s determination to host an exceptional edition of the tournament.

Al Mudahka added in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the Doha edition will witness significant and wide participation and the presence of a select group of international masters in the game.

The previous edition in New York saw the participation of 180 men’s players and 110 women’s players.

Al Mudahka said that the Qatari national team will participate in the world championship, which will be extremely important, as it aims to raise the rankings and engage with various chess schools around the world.

SHANGHAI: The 2025 FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship’s fourth round match between Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi ended in a draw.

Tan put Ju under heavy pressure, but Ju was able to defend her way to a draw.  In this 12-game format, the first player to score 6.5 points will be declared the winner.

The time control for each game is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.

If the match is tied at 6-6 after all 12 games, a tiebreak will determine the champion. The tiebreak procedure involves a series of rapid and, if necessary, blitz games to ensure a decisive outcome.

The championship boasts a €500,000 prize fund and follows a classical time control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.

PARIS: Magnus Carlsen remains confident in his superiority over the younger generation of chess players but has ruled out a return to the classical world championship. The Norwegian grandmaster, who stepped away from defending his title in 2022 due to a lack of motivation, has since been succeeded by Ding Liren and teenage sensation Gukesh Dommaraju.

Despite the rise of young talents—five of the current Top 10 players were born in the 2000s—Carlsen sees no reason to make a comeback. Speaking to Reuters on Monday, the 34-year-old world number one dismissed the idea of reclaiming the title, saying, “I don’t see that at the moment. I think it’s very, very unlikely.”

In 2021, Carlsen had hinted at a potential defense if Alireza Firouzja won the Candidates tournament, but now, no active player is enough to tempt him back. Instead, he has turned his focus to new chess ventures, including the Freestyle Grand Slam and the Esports World Cup, as he continues to shape the future of the game on his own terms.(Reuters)

Mohammad Amin

DOHA: Qatar will host the Men’s and Women’s World Chess Championships in December this year.

Confirming this, Qatar Chess Association (QCA) President Mohammed Al-Mudahka said that this will be a milestone that will further elevate the game’s prominence in the country.

The event is scheduled from December 25 to December 31, 2025, with the Rapid Championships taking place from December 26 to 28, followed by the Blitz Championships on December 29 and 30.

Al Mudahka, who is also a Grandmaster, emphasized the importance of hosting tournaments, noting that the QCA’s efforts over the past three months have significantly boosted the performance and international rankings of Qatari players.

He reaffirmed the QCA’s strategy to enhance player development and participate in regional and continental events to gain competitive experience.

Additionally, he confirmed the continuation of the prestigious Qatar Masters International Open Championship, which attracts some of the world’s top-ranked players.

Meanwhile, the QCA President expressed his satisfaction with the Katara Ramadan International Open championship’s success, highlighting the fierce competition and impressive performances displayed throughout the tournament.

“The tournament achieved its objectives, and as expected, it was well-received by the participants. The high level of competition further solidified its reputation as one of the premier events in the chess calendar,” Al-Mudahka said.

He also praised the efforts of Katara Cultural Village in ensuring the tournament’s continuity and reiterated the Federation’s commitment to expanding the sport’s reach in Qatar.

“Our partnership with Katara will continue, and we are working on several initiatives to promote chess across the country,” he added.

Ramadan tournament continues to inspire

The Katara Chess Championship has cemented its place as one of the most significant Ramadan sports events in Qatar. Organized annually by the Qatar Chess Federation, the tournament has consistently provided a platform for emerging talent, contributing to the growth of chess at both national and international levels.

With another successful edition concluded, Qatar continues to establish itself as a key hub for chess in the region, setting the stage for even greater milestones in the future.

DOHA: The curtains fell on the Katara International Ramadan Open Classic Chess Championship with India’s Albin Sajan claiming the title.

The prestigious tournament saw the participation of 90 players from 22 countries, competing in a nine-round classic chess format under the Swiss system (60 minutes + 30 seconds per move).

Sajan secured title with 7.5 points after an intense final round.

Filipino rival Ryan Mendoza finished second. India’s Sahya Prashant finished third with 7 points, followed by compatriot Syed Abdul Qadir (4th with 6.5 points).

Strong Arab presence in standings

Algeria’s Jamal Ferhi finished as the top Arab player, securing fifth place overall with 6.5 points. Qatari national team player Lian Al-Qassabi delivered an impressive performance, finishing tenth overall with six points and claiming the Best Qatari Player award.

Egyptian Mahmoud Abdo also finished with six points, but trailed by a move difference.

Qatari talents continued to shine, with Irfan Mohammed securing sixteenth place overall with 5.5 points, earning him the Best Qatari Player Under-16 title. Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Jumaat won the Best Qatari Player Under-10 award, and Abdulaziz Al-Mahasneh was named Best Qatari Player Under-8.

Qatar’s Chess Future Looks Bright

The tournament featured 13 players from the Qatari national team across various age groups, including Irfan Mohammed, Khaled Al-Jumaat, Ahmed Saif, Fahad Al-Mansoori, Turki Al-Kuwari, Hamad Al-Kuwari, Rawda Al-Qassabi, Saqr Al-Muftah, Asma Al-Hammadi, Amer Al-Hammadi, Layan Al-Qassabi, Abdulaziz Al-Mahasneh, and Khaled Al-Yafei.

DOHA: India’s Syed Khidr maintained his lead with 4 points, followed closely by the Philippines’ Leola Robinson (3.5) at the Katara International Ramadan Open Chess Championship on Monday.

India’s Ayyappan Balandan also has 3.5 points but trails Robinson on tiebreakers. Rounding out the top five are India’s Abel Sajan and the Philippines’ Ryan Mendoza, both poised to challenge the leaders.

In Round 5, the leader Khidr secured a crucial victory over Qatar’s Al Jummat, while Al Qassabi held Mendoza to a draw. Other notable results included Qatar’s Hamad Al Kuwari drawing with India’s Dhai Vessani, Ibrahim Al Janahi defeating India’s Harish Kaverasu, Fahad Al Mansoori overcoming China’s Wang Yidu, and Khalid Al Yafai besting Mohamed Al Fateh. Rowda Al Qassabi also earned a draw against Mohamed Djerbi.

Featuring 90 players from 22 nations, this prestigious event, organized by the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), is shaping up to be a thrilling battle of wits.

The tournament, played under the Swiss system across nine rounds, uses a classical time control of 60 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move.

Round 6 promises high-stakes drama as the top four contenders face off on the main tables, while players ranked fifth through tenth look to rebound from earlier setbacks.

Qatar’s national team is making a strong showing, with Layan Al Qassabi in sixth place at 3.5 points, firmly in the hunt for the title.

Teammates Irfan Mohamed Ferdous (eighth, 3.5 points) and Khalid Al Jummat (ninth, 3 points) are also in contention, showcasing the depth of Qatari talent.

Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the QCA, praised the fierce competition, particularly on the top boards, where the leading six players are locked in a tense showdown.

“The performances of our Qatari players across the first five rounds have been outstanding,” Al Tamimi said. “The QCA remains dedicated to nurturing talent across all genders and age groups, and we are grateful for Katara’s unwavering support in making this tournament a success year after year.”

Widely regarded as the crown jewel of the QCA’s annual calendar, the Katara International Ramadan Open Chess Championship is a cornerstone event held during the holy month of Ramadan, serving as a vital platform for Qatar’s national teams to hone their skills against elite international competition.

The 6th round of the will be held today.