Doha: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has hailed the State of Qatar’s world-class sports infrastructure and its readiness to host the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship this December, citing Doha’s proven record in staging major international events. This came during FIDE’s inspection visit to the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University to review preparations for the championship.
According to Qatar News Agency, the visit was attended by FIDE Executive Director Victor Bologan, President of the Qatar Chess Association Mohammed Al Mudahka, and FIDE Chief Operating Officer Anton Zhuravlev. Bologan expressed confidence in Qatar’s ability to host the championship successfully, emphasizing that the facilities at Qatar University meet world-class standards and offer high operational efficiency. He stated that these capabilities will enable Qatar to deliver a distinguished and memorable edition of the global tournament.
He added that Qatar’s proven track record in hosting major world championships in recent years has earned the country strong trust within FIDE, especially following the successful hosting of the 2016 edition of the championship. Bologan noted that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was to assess Qatar’s readiness to host the global event and to discuss promotional and marketing plans for the tournament.
For his part, the President of the Qatar Chess Association confirmed that several coordination meetings were held during the visit, covering arrangements to host an exceptional chess event. In a statement to Qatar News Agency, Al Mudahka revealed ongoing discussions with FIDE to organize additional events in the lead-up to the championship as part of promotional efforts. He added that the venues for the World Championship finals have already been designated, including the Sports and Events Complex at Qatar University, dedicated training halls, the main media center for broadcasting, and the official tournament hotels.
Al Mudahka also announced that the Qatar Chess Association is preparing domestic activities to promote the championship. He emphasized that the presence of modern sports facilities and world-class infrastructure at Qatar University, along with the ease of movement between competition venues, facilities, and accommodations, will significantly contribute to delivering a high-quality tournament for all participating chess stars.
Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association and Director of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, said final preparations for the World Rapid and Blitz Championship are nearly complete, with ticket sales set to launch in early November. Speaking to QNA, Al Tamimi emphasized that the World Championship will offer young players the opportunity to follow elite stars and top-ranked professionals, encouraging future generations to engage with the sport, develop their skills, and reach professional levels.
The Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association and Championship Director explained that cooperation between the Qatari and international federations has been longstanding, with Qatar previously hosting the World Championship in 2016. He pointed out that the recent visit included agreements between both federations on accompanying events and promotional programs for the tournament, which will be announced at a later date.
Meanwhile, Head of Sports Facilities at Qatar University Eng. Homoud Al Hajri stated that Qatar aims to deliver an exceptional edition of the World Chess Championship. He noted that the FIDE delegation reviewed all tournament facilities and playing halls, expressing admiration for the infrastructure. Without a doubt, Al Hajri added, hosting this global championship at Qatar University will have a wide positive impact on students and leave a lasting legacy that supports the growth and cultural spread of chess in the community.
The World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, with total prize money of one million euros, is expected to attract around 350 top-ranked male and female players from around the world. The first edition of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship held in Doha in 2016 was won by Ukrainian Grandmaster Vasyl Ivanchuk, with participation from 120 male and 36 female international masters.