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GCL: Carlsen scores ‘massive’ win over Anand to put Warriors in lead

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Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Two days after Magnus Carlsen told the media in Dubai he is still the best in the world with no one to beat him, he proved it by example in the ongoing Global Chess League.

The icon player for SG Alpine Warriors kept the pressure on leaders Ganges Grandmasters by a morale-lifting victory and a historic clash with counterpart Vishwanathan Anand at Le Meridien hotel on Wednesday. A huge turnout at Le Meridien got what they came for as Carlsen, playing with black, overturned the tables in a memorable endgame.

Ganges Grandmasters took the lead but, thanks to the unstoppable Warriors prodigy Praggnanandhaa R, the team managed to strike back in a critical moment. In what turned out to be the endgame for the history books, which saw two queens promoted by White and a knight promoted by Black, Carlsen managed to win 10-8 as Warriors displaced the Grandmasters on the leaderboard as both sides look headed to the final as well.

In the other game, Balan Alaskan Knights also scored a timely 8-5 win over upGrad Mumba Masters to inch up a spot from their fifth place at the start of the day.

Following the French defence, a sharp position developed on the board. In positional readjusting, both were pushing, creating traps for each other. With seconds on the clock, Carlsen had to calculate the complicated path to victory which saw White promoting his pawn to a queen twice. In the end, Anand thought he found a way to a stalemate but instead of promoting a queen, Carlsen took out a knight – an unusual choice by all standards – but just what was needed for victory.

“I did not know the score but, judging from what I’d seen before, I thought I had to win,” Carlsen said. “It’s looking pretty good now.  It’s pretty massive, we’ve got to keep it going. We have played with five blacks in a row, won four of them. But now the mentality changes; a draw will not be enough.”

A disappointed Anand acknowledged the genius of Carlsen. “I spoiled the endgame in the end. He’s really good at this,” said the former five-time world champion from India.


For a long time in the match, neither side had the upper hand. The first to make a breakthrough was Ganges’ Richard Rapport. In the Italian game, Gukesh D allowed Rapport to take more space and orchestrate an attack on the black king from which there was no escape. With another game ending in a draw – between Arjun Erigaisi and Leinier Dominguez – the Ganges Grandmasters took the lead.

The next game to finish was between Hou Yifan – the world’s top-rated woman player – who defeated the eight-time American women’s champion, Irina Krush. In a tense position, Krush made a blunder allowing White to easily mate her king.

A glimmer of hope for Warriors came from Praggnanandhaa – so far the most successful player in the tournament with six wins and a draw – who proved his value again, defeating Andrey Esipenko as Black.

As Elisabeth Paehtz ended in a drawn position with Bella Khotenashvili, everything depended on the outcome of the game between Carlsen and Anand. “This is a game for the history books. The titans of chess fighting it out until the end”, said Grandmaster Peter Svidler.


Balan Alaskan Knights v upGrad Mumba Masters (8:5)

Knights, who won the first round against the Masters 14:5, started with the advantage of playing with white. Icon player Ian Nepomniachtchi went for the Sicilian Rossolimo against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Both the Indian women’s Grandmasters, Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, also came under opening pressure straightaway.

The Knights’ started the day in fifth position but in the individual race for the most valuable players, they had two players, Tan Zhongyi and Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in good form and in the top six, just behind the Masters’ Harika Dronavalli in fourth.

By the time the dust settled on the opening moves, Humpy was in a disadvantageous position against Zhongyi although the latter had used up more time for her attack. On board one, the icon players settled for a draw, just as Teimour Radjabov and Vidit Gujrathi on the third table.

Meanwhile, a patient Humpy made calculated moves to fight back and Zhongyi also misplayed at a crucial juncture as Humpy bailed out. Dronavalli also held off the initial onslaught from Nino Batsiashvili to split the point.

All hopes rested on board six, where Knights prodigy Raunak Sadhwani pressed his advantage with white Javokhir Sindarov with the time clock also in the favour of the young 17-year-old from Nagpur. The endgame saw some nervous shaking of feet before Sadhwani enforced a win and expressed his delight by throwing his hands in the air.

In the last game to finish, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, in white, was in a tight tug of war with Alexander Grischuk for most of their clash. Abdusattorov then managed to hold fort, thus paving way for an important 8-5 win for the Knights.

Raunak Sadhwani scored an important win for Balan Alaskan Knights.

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Manchester City launches Ramadan Esports Football Cup for gamers in UAE and MENA

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Manchester City, one of England’s top Premier League clubs, has launched the Ramadan Esports Football Cup, a regional gaming tournament open to players across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria.

The competition, which will take place online across multiple gaming platforms, gives football gaming fans a chance to showcase their skills and compete for exclusive prizes.

How the Tournament Works

  • Players will first compete in national qualifiers, where they will have five hours to play up to ten matches against others from their country.
  • The top players from each country will move on to the semi-finals, scheduled for April 4 at 1:00 PM (local time).
  • Winners from the semi-finals will face off in the grand final later that same day.

Exciting Prizes for Finalists

The tournament winners will receive:

  • A one-on-one match with a Manchester City Esports pro player.
  • An official Manchester City jersey, signed by the entire first team.

This competition is a great chance for football gaming enthusiasts in the UAE and beyond to test their skills and experience top-level esports action during Ramadan.

(Source: Wam)

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Japan becomes first nation to book World Cup 2026 spot as UAE’s fight for qualification continues

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Japan became the first nation to seal qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing their place in emphatic fashion with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on Thursday.

Second-half strikes from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo ensured Hajime Moriyasu’s side maintained their flawless march through Group C of Asia’s preliminaries, keeping them nine points clear at the summit. Kamada, introduced from the bench, broke the deadlock in the 66th minute before Kubo added gloss to the scoreline three minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Australia cemented their position in second place with a commanding 5-1 win over Indonesia in Sydney, easing Patrick Kluivert into his first game in charge of the visitors. Saudi Arabia was set to host China later on Thursday in the remaining Group C fixture.

UAE remain in contention despite setback in Tehran

The UAE’s World Cup qualification hopes took a hit with a 2-0 defeat to Iran, but Paulo Bento’s side remains firmly in the fight for a place at football’s grandest stage. Goals from Sardar Azmoun and Mohammad Mohebbi put Iran on the brink of their fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, while The Whites must now regroup for a crucial run of fixtures.

Drawn in a competitive Group A alongside reigning Asian champions Qatar, as well as Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and North Korea, the UAE’s campaign is still alive with key games ahead.

Meanwhile, in Group B, South Korea were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman at Goyang Stadium, a result that kept the Taeguk Warriors atop the standings with 15 points, while Oman remained in fourth with seven.

With only the top two teams from each group sealing automatic qualification, the battle for progression remains intense. The third and fourth-placed teams will enter a six-team playoff round, where two further direct berths are up for grabs, while a final qualification spot will be determined via an intercontinental playoff.

For Japan, the job is done. For the UAE, the mission is far from over.

(Source: Wam)

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Top fighters get ready for action as UAE Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup begins

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The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation is getting ready for the first round of the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup, the country’s most prestigious local championship. The event will take place on Thursday, 20th March, at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.

This highly anticipated competition will feature top athletes in the Adults and Under 21 categories, known for their skill, dedication, and exciting matches.

A Platform for Champions

Yousef Abdullah Al Batran, a board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said,
“The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup is the biggest challenge for athletes in the UAE. It helps them track their progress and compete at the highest level. With so many talented competitors, this event promises thrilling matches. Our goal is to deliver a high-quality championship that prepares athletes for international competitions.”

An Open Challenge for All Athletes

The tournament will use an open belt system, meaning athletes of all belt levels will compete together in the same category. This format encourages learning and skill development as competitors face opponents of different experience levels.

Weigh-Ins and Competition Preparations

Athletes must complete their weigh-ins on 19th and 20th March at various locations:

Where: Mubadala Arena (Abu Dhabi), ADMA Mirdif (Dubai), Al Nahyaniya Hall (Al Ain)
 Timings: 4 pm – 6 pm

Clubs and academies have been training hard for this event, aiming to earn top rankings. Fans can expect intense and action-packed matches as teams fight for the championship title.

Al Wahda Club Aims to Defend Its Title

Mahmoud Al Sayed, Director of the Jiu-Jitsu Academy at Al Wahda Club, said,
“Our athletes are ready to defend their title. We’ve trained hard, and we’re confident in our abilities. The competition will be tough, but we’re determined to make our club proud.”

Last year, Al Wahda Club won the men’s title, while Baniyas Club finished second and Al Ain Club took third place.

(Source: Wam)

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