President of the Qatar Chess Association (QCA) Mohamed al-Mudahka participated in the FIDE Torch Relay held on Sunday at Marina Mall, sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organised by the Abu Dhabi Chess and Mind Games Club.
Al-Mudahka expressed happiness after taking part in the FIDE Torch Relay. Abu Dhabi has been chosen to host the FIDE Olympic Torch as part of the celebration of its winning the bid race to host the World Chess Olympiad in 2028.
Al-Mudahka, who holds the title of International Grandmaster, said in a statement that he participated in an exhibition match alongside World Youth Champion and African and Arab Champion Grandmaster Ahmed al-Adli, besides taking on 15 players at the same time. Al-Mudahka, who also serves as the Executive Director of International Relations at FIDE, added that 12 cities, including Abu Dhabi, were chosen to host to participate in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1924. He said after Abu Dhabi’s turn to host the FIDE Olympic Torch Relay, Hungary will welcome the chess family next month, coinciding with the launch of the 2024 Chess Olympiad set to take place in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, from September 10 to 23.
Al-Mudahka stressed the importance of participating in the FIDE event in Abu Dhabi. He said he was delighted to see ‘the great passion exhibited by young participants at the festival’. It is worth noting that QCA will conclude its participation in the 30th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival which witnesses the participation of more than 2,200 male and female players representing 82 countries.
The Qatari team is represented in the festival by 15 male and female players in various tournaments (Masters Tournament, Open Tournament A, Open Tournament B, Junior Tournament Under-16s, and Blitz Chess Tournament).
A photo exhibition at Marina Mall coincided with the Torch Relay, showcasing the history of chess and the diversity of its practitioners, alongside an exhibition match featuring the World Youth Champion and African and Arab Champion Grandmaster Ahmed al-Adli going up against 15 players at the same time.