Tribune News Network
Doha
The 3rd Qatar Masters 2023 International Chess Championship kicked off at the Lusail Sports Hall on Wednesday with World No .1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway starting off his campaign on a winning note.
The five-time world champion and a former Doha winner easily beat the 18-year-old LR Srihari from India. In another fixture, IM Kushagra Mohan upset GM Vladimir Fedoseev.
As many as 250 players, male and female, representing 45 countries, are taking part in the 10-day championship.
Players from 16 Arab countries are also in the fray. India has the largest pool of 76 players taking part in the Qatar event where the total prize pool is $120,000.
Qatari player Hussein Aziz, ranked 141, lost the opening match to Uzbekistan’s Mukhiddin Madaminov, ranked 61st in the tournament.
In other results, UAE’s Salem Abdul Rahman, ranked 14, beat IM CRG Krishna, ranked 96, while Iranian GM Parham Maghsoodloo, ranked 7, defeated Saidakbar Saydaliev of Uzbekistan.
Earlier, a brief opening ceremony headlined by HE Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Sports and Youth, and Mohamed Al Mudahka, President of Qatar Chess Association (QCA), marked the start of the 10-day championship.
President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovic and President of the UAE Chess Federation Taryam Matar Taryam were also present at the ceremony.
Executive Director of QCA and Director of Qatar Masters Hamad Al Tamimi, said Doha had captured the chess world’s attention with the start of the Qatar Masters 2023.
“This is the third edition of Qatar Masters. It was previously staged in 2014 and 2015. The Local Organizing Committee started its preparation several months ago once the championship date was finalized,” al-Tamimi said.
“We are pleased to welcome all participating delegations and we hope that the third edition will be a success story on many fronts. Our goal is to maintain the high reputation the tournament enjoys all over the world.
“The International B tournament features a number of young players from Qatar. It is undoubtedly a great experience for our players who get to benefit from the experience of being alongside an elite group of world champions,” he said.
The International B Championship competitions were launched parallel to the Qatar Masters Open, witnessing the attendance of 94 male and female players who are ranked under 2,300 points.
Qatar is participating with players Mohamed Firdaus, Fahd Al Mansouri, Mohammed Al Qasabi, Hamad Al Kuwari, Mohamed Al Khayyat, Turki Al Kuwari, Mohamed Al ubaie, Amer Al Hammadi, Tamim Al Ghanem, Hamad Al Fahd, Ahmed Al Khunji and Ahmed Saif.
The B Championship is being held according to the Swiss system, with 9 rounds, with large participation among Arab players reaching about 50 male and female players.
