Team Qatar takes part in Arab Chess Championship

Doha, Qatar: The Qatari national chess team opened its campaign at the Arab Chess Championship in Kuwait with the first two rounds of the classical co...

Doha, Qatar: The Qatari national chess team opened its campaign at the Arab Chess Championship in Kuwait with the first two rounds of the classical competition.

The tournament, which runs until November 25, brings together 87 players from 18 Arab countries under the umbrella of the Arab Chess Federation.

In the men’s event, Hussein Aziz lost his first-round match to Syria’s Aghid Miro, before bouncing back with a win over Kuwait’s Bader Al Hajri in the second round to secure his first point. He is scheduled to meet Emirati player Mohammed Saeed in the third round. Teammate Hamad Al Kuwari also suffered an opening defeat, losing to Morocco’s Yasser Hajji, but responded with victory over Kuwaiti Hussein Suleiman in the second round. He will face Iraq’s Ali Laith Al Othman in the third round.

In the women’s competition, Qatari player Ghada Al Khalifi lost her first match to Egypt’s Jana Zaki and her second to Morocco’s Khadija Al Mutairi. She will meet Oman’s Anah Al Issaie in the third round.

Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Federation, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that participation in the championship is highly significant given the presence of many of the Arab world’s leading players. He said the event offers a strong chance for Qatari players to improve their international ratings.