Qatar Rail Open Chess Championship begins

Doha: The Qatar Chess Association (QCA) has announced details of the 3rd edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess Championship 2025, organised in cooperation...

Doha: The Qatar Chess Association (QCA) has announced details of the 3rd edition of Qatar Rail Open Chess Championship 2025, organised in cooperation with Qatar Rail. The tournament coincides with World Chess Day, which falls on July 20 each year.

The preliminary rounds will begin today at the Qatar Chess Training Center, with the participation of 100 players. The competition will be held in a nine-round blitz format to determine the players who will advance to the final stage.

The final rounds of the tournament will be held on Sunday at the Al Bidda Station of Doha Metro. Twenty players will participate in the nine-round Swiss system.

QCA said it has made all arrangements for smooth start of the competition tomorrow, putting the final touches on the selection of arbiters who will oversee the competitions.

QCA President Mohammed Al Mudahka praised the continuation of the tournament for a third consecutive year, appreciating the cooperation between QCA and Qatar Rail, which aims to achieve several goals, most notably spreading the culture of chess in society. He expressed his aspiration for further cooperation that would help QCA achieve its vision of developing the game by building a strong base for it.