World Junior Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships Open in Al Ain

Al Ain, UAE — The fourth edition of the FIDE World Junior Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships got underway on November 1 at the Danat Al Ain Resort, adding a third World Championship milestone to the city’s international chess legacy.

Opening Ceremony

The opening ceremony drew senior chess officials from across the globe. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation and Chairman of the Al Ain Chess & Mind Games Club, delivered the welcome address. He thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his continued support of sport and youth development, and expressed gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose patronage through the Abu Dhabi Sports Council helped make the event possible.

Javier Ochoa de Echagüen, FIDE Honorary Vice-President, addressed the gathering before the official declaration. Representatives from the African Chess Confederation and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas were also in attendance.

Sheikh Sultan highlighted the synergy between the championships and Al Ain’s designation as the Arab Capital of Tourism for 2026, noting that the event offers visiting delegations an opportunity to explore the city’s heritage and landmarks.

After Three Rounds

The opening day produced a tightly contested start. In the Open section, five players share the lead with perfect scores of three points from three rapid rounds: Artem Uskov (FIDE), India’s Pranav V and Praneeth Vuppala, Kazakhstan’s Satbek Akhmedinov, and Artiom Stribuk.

Just half a point adrift are Eline Roebers of the Netherlands, Aliaksandra Tarasenka of Belarus, and Marina Kuznetsova and Margarita Bendik (both FIDE), setting up closely contested encounters in the rounds ahead.

In the Girls’ competition, three players are tied at the top with three points each: Zarina Nurgaliyeva and Valeria Kleymenova (FIDE), both representing Kazakhstan, along with Umida Omonova of Uzbekistan.

• UAE representative Hamad Essa Al-Blooshi and Husain Ali Alhammadi each earned two points in the Open section
• Rouda Essa Alserkal scored 1½ points in the Girls’ section

Tournament Details

The championships, running from November 1 to 7, bring together 150 players from 40 countries. The nine-round rapid competition concludes on November 4, followed by the blitz events. The event is organised by the Al Ain Chess & Mind Games Club in cooperation with FIDE and the UAE Chess Federation, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.

Source

This report is based on information published by FIDE — International Chess Federation.

Official source: https://www.fide.com/continental-chess-presidents-inaugurate-world-junior-rapid-blitz-championships-in-al-ain/