With the participation of 160 players, Maliha Club concludes its third International Blitz Chess Championship

The Mleiha Cultural and Sports Club concluded its Ramadan tournament, which was named the "Third Mleiha International Blitz Chess Tournament," which it organized at its headquarters yesterday, Sunday, in cooperation with the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, and under the supervision of the Sharjah Sports Council, with the participation of 160 male and female players from 25 countries, including more than 100 internationally ranked players.

The Mleiha Cultural and Sports Club concluded its Ramadan tournament, which was named the “Third Mleiha International Blitz Chess Tournament,” which it organized at its headquarters yesterday, Sunday, in cooperation with the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, and under the supervision of the Sharjah Sports Council. 160 players from 25 countries participated, including more than 100 internationally ranked players.

The opening ceremony and the tournament proceedings were attended by Hamad Tamim Al Ketbi, Board Member of the Mleiha Cultural and Sports Club and Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the tournament, Omar Noman Al Ali, Assistant Secretary-General of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, Faisal Al Hammadi, Sports Administration Supervisor at the Mleiha Club and Technical Director of the tournament, Rajai Al Sousi, Executive Director of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, Bader Al Mazmi, General Coordinator of the tournament, and a number of administrators and coaches of sports clubs in the emirate.

In conclusion, Hamad Tamim Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Championship, and Ali Hassan Al Ali, the Chief Arbiter of the Championship, honored the winners of the top positions. The final results resulted in the victory of Filipino International Master Oliver Demakling, who won the championship title after winning the decisive rounds against Egyptian Ahmed Adly, the former World Youth Champion, Moldovan Viorel Iordachescu, and Turkish Mert Erdoğdu, and drawing in the last round with Ukrainian Alexander Zubarev, to obtain a final total of 8.5 points out of 9 rounds. In second place was Moldovan Grandmaster Viorel Iordachescu, coach of Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, with 8 points. In third place was Ukrainian Grandmaster Alexander Zubarev with 7.5 points. In fourth place was Pakistani International Master Murtaza Ali with 7 points. In fifth place was Turkish Grandmaster Mert Erdoğdu, coach of the UAE Chess Federation. In sixth place was Egyptian Grandmaster Ahmed Adly with 7 points, while in seventh place was English FIDE Master Charles Storey with 7 points.

The tournament's organizing committee had allocated special prizes for players in the age categories. The award for best player under 10 years old went to Saqr Issa Khamis from Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, and the award for best player under 8 years old went to Indian player Jain Versin. The best player from Mleiha Club was also honored, and the award went to player Abdullah Rashid.

Hamad Tamim Al Ketbi, a member of the Board of Directors of the Mleiha Cultural and Sports Club and Chairman of the Supreme Organizing Committee for the Championship, pointed out that the championship was organized after it was planned according to diligent and continuous work within the club’s strategy to organize many events and activities to be at a world-class level befitting the sport of the intelligent, stressing that this international event will be organized annually with the active participation of the club’s members and affiliates, as such participation will greatly benefit the players by providing interaction, gaining experience and getting to know these participants from different countries of the world.

Al-Ketbi added, “At the conclusion of th