UAE’s rising chess sensation Rouda Al Serkal wrapped up her debut at the Norway Chess Open in style, clinching three consecutive victories to finish strong in the prestigious General Masters (GM) category in Stavanger.

The 15-year-old, who turns 16 next month, demonstrated resilience and maturity beyond her years as she battled through nine intense rounds, ultimately scoring 4 points in a field stacked with seasoned international players.

Despite a rocky start that included several early losses, Rouda’s final flourish, back-to-back wins over opponents from Norway, Italy, and France, underscored both her talent and fighting spirit.

“It was a learning experience more than anything else,” Rouda said. “I’m proud I stayed with it. Ending with three wins felt special. I feel like I’m leaving stronger than I arrived, even though I know I could have done much better.”

Tough Start, Strong Finish

Coming off a strong showing at the Asian Individual Women’s Championship in Al Ain and a productive training block, Rouda entered the tournament with high hopes. But her opening round on May 26 against Swedish Grandmaster Platon Galperin – one of the top seeds – ended in a tough 56-move loss.

“That first game hit me hard,” Rouda admitted. “It’s difficult to lose after such a long fight, especially in the very first round. I was disappointed, but I knew I had to regroup quickly.”

A draw with American player Luke Leon Robin Anatol followed, but another frustrating loss in round three to Spain’s Lucia Follana Albelda left the young Emirati visibly deflated. “That one stung. I had her in my grasp after opening with the Caro-Kann advanced variation, but let it slip away,” she said.

Two more challenging rounds followed – a draw against Mexico’s Jan Enrique Zepeda Berlanga and losses to Norwegian players Ask Amundsen and Astor Moe Maurstad – further testing her resolve.

Comeback Kid

But the turning point came in round seven, when Rouda picked up her first win of the tournament against Norway’s Sigur H. Myny while playing white.

“Eventually, I just found my footing,” she said. “I stopped overthinking, focused on the basics, and trusted my training.”

From there, she built momentum, defeating Italian Mauro Pivi on May 30 and France’s Franck Gouanelle in the final round on June 1, sealing her third straight win.

Rouda, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster and a former World Youth Champion, finished with three wins, two draws, and four losses. While she narrowly missed her target of gaining 100 rating points, she impressed observers with her adaptability and determination.

“Most of the games I lost, I was either winning or had a clear advantage. That’s what frustrated me the most,” she said.

A Milestone Moment for UAE Chess

As the first Emirati woman to compete in the GM category of the Norway Chess Open, Rouda’s participation was historic in itself. Her gritty comeback only added to the significance.

Tournament founder Kjell Madland praised her spirited performance. “It is exactly this kind of story that reinforces Norway Chess as a truly global platform,” he said. “To have young talents like Rouda travel from the UAE to compete at this level adds richness and reach to what we’re building here in Stavanger.”

Norway Chess Supertournament: Carlsen and Humpy in the Mix

Meanwhile, in the elite Norway Chess supertournament taking place at the SpareBank 1 SR-Bank venue, world number one Magnus Carlsen remains in close contention for the men’s title, while India’s two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy is among the frontrunners in the women’s event. Final rounds continue later this week.

Meanwhile, World Champion D. Gukesh from India beat World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen from Norway for the first time in classical chess with a stunning endgame turnaround to close in on the leaders, and have a genuine chance of winning the tournament with four rounds left to play.

India’s cricket superstar Virat Kohli has become an investor in the World Bowling League (WBL), a Dubai-founded initiative set to reinvent bowling as a fast-paced, global spectator sport.

Kohli joins Major League Baseball (MLB) icon Mookie Betts as a high-profile partner in the WBL, which was launched by Dubai-based entrepreneur Adi K. Mishra. The league is reimagining the traditional game with a dynamic format featuring mixed-gender teams, international tournaments, and a modern media-first approach aimed at younger audiences.

With franchises expected in Dubai and other global cities, the WBL plans to host 12 to 15 tournaments annually across the United States, Europe, and Asia, as part of its ambitious five-year growth plan.

“When I discovered Virat is also a bowler, it was exciting to align with this new-age vision for the sport,” said Mishra, founder and CEO of League Sports Co.

Kohli, one of the most followed athletes in the world on social media, revealed a long-standing personal connection to the sport.

“I started bowling when I was 11 years old,” Kohli said. “It’s clear how popular the sport is, yet it remains underappreciated as a business.”

The 36-year-old’s global influence and passion for sport are expected to significantly boost the league’s visibility and credibility as it enters its debut season. The WBL aims to position bowling not just as a recreational activity but as an engaging, competitive, and commercially viable sport with global appeal.

After a difficult season that saw Manchester City fall short of their lofty standards, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has assured fans the team will bounce back in 2025 with renewed hunger and ambition.

Speaking in his annual end-of-season interview, published on the club’s website, Al Mubarak acknowledged that the recently concluded campaign was below par by City’s expectations. The team, which previously captured a historic Treble in 2022/23 and a record fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2023/24, ended this season with only the Community Shield to show.

“This season is now behind us,” Al Mubarak said. “Today is a new day. We’ve already started preparing for next season – in fact, we’ve been doing that since January.”

Transfer plans in motion

With the FIFA Club World Cup in June fast approaching, Al Mubarak confirmed that City are targeting new signings this summer to strengthen Pep Guardiola’s squad.

“We will take all the good things and the not-so-good things from this season, learn from them, and come back stronger,” he said. 

“The club will do everything possible to return to the standards we know we can achieve.”

He also revealed that top-level discussions were already underway, with Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, CEO Ferran Soriano, manager Pep Guardiola, and Football Partnerships Director Hugo Viana all working closely on transfer strategy.

“I just got off the phone with Ferran. He spent the day with Txiki, Pep, and Hugo today. We finished our last game yesterday, and today we’re working. Nobody’s going on vacation yet,” he added.

Hunger in the squad

Despite the underwhelming season, the mood in the dressing room remains determined and focused. Al Mubarak attended City’s final game of the campaign, a 2-0 win at Fulham, and noted a strong sense of motivation among the players.

“Everyone I saw after the Fulham game was excited about coming back,” he said. 

“They’re hungry. Rodri is already looking for games. Erling [Haaland] didn’t want to go on vacation, he wanted to stay with the physios and prepare for next season. That’s the attitude you want.”

Al Mubarak’s confidence in the club’s future stems from this player-driven determination and the leadership’s proactive approach to the upcoming transfer window.

“We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity,” he said. “And I can assure you – we will be back competing for the biggest prizes next season.”