Announcements

Global Chess League Season 2 a Great Opportunity to Attract New Fans, says Viswanathan Anand

Published

1 year ago

September 17, 2024

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With less than a month left before the second season of the Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, legendary Indian Chess Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand expressed his excitement for the upcoming tournament. The competition will take place between October 3rd and October 12th in London, and the five-time World Champion opened up on his reasons for returning to the tournament this year.

“I remember clearly how much fun the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League was last year in Dubai, and I am very excited about the second season. Most of the world’s best players took part in the initial edition. Notably, one player whose presence everyone is looking forward to has also joined this year – Hikaru Nakamura,” Anand said.

Anand will continue in his role as the Icon Player for the Ganges Grandmasters this season. He will compete against Magnus Carlsen (Alpine SG Pipers), Hikaru Nakamura (American Gambits), Anish Giri (PBG Alaskan Knights), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (upGrad Mumba Masters), and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Triveni Continental Kings).

“The teams have had a chance to rejig their compositions. They have learned from the past season and have strengthened themselves. I think the second season will be even better as the level of competition is absolutely elite,” he added.

In its first season, the Global Chess League revolutionized the sport with its unique team format. The first-of-its-kind franchise-based league features a total of six teams consisting of six players in each team – one Icon player, two superstar male players, two superstar female players, and one prodigy in each team. Anand explained how the format helps the players perform better.

“Chess is an individual game. However, when you play for a team, you have an added responsibility, as your performance can directly or indirectly impact your team members’ results. So, everyone is motivated to do well. On top of that, when all the team members get along well, and the team atmosphere is good, players can be inspired to produce their best performances,” the 54-year-old said.

The two-time Chess World Cup winner further elaborated on why the first season captured the imaginations of the global chess community. He further said that the Global Chess League is helping to increase the sports’ fan base. “The inaugural season received a remarkable response from fans because it was a fan-centric and spectator experience-centric event. Everything, from the visual effects to the commentary to the format to the scoring, was developed to make it exciting for the spectators. Hence, the tournament is a very good opportunity to draw in many new fans.”

Addressing his targets for the season, Anand said that he wishes to help Ganges Grandmasters win the title. Apart from him, the franchise has changed their squad, roping in Arjun Erigaisi and Parham Maghsoodloo as Superstar men players and Vaishali R and Nurgyul Salimova as Superstar women players for the season. Volodar Murzin has been brought in as the Prodigy player.

“As a team, the Ganges Grandmasters did well in the last edition, but we could not qualify. It shows the unpredictable nature of the league’s scoring system and format. We will try to do much better this time. As a player, my goals align with the same, and I want to help our team reach the final and win the trophy.”

Anand further expressed his eagerness to compete in London, explaining why the city is a fitting destination for the second season of the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League. “London has always played a very important role in the history of chess, right from the Great International Chess Tournaments of 1851 to today, it has been the host for countless world’s best tournaments. I think it’s a very fitting venue, and many fans worldwide will be tempted to come and enjoy the event. I am looking forward to playing in London again. It’s a great city,” he signed off.

Related Topics:#featured #globalchessleague #globalchessleague2024 #globalchessleagueseason2

Staff Reporter

Announcements

UAE announces early spring break for all educational institutions

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2026

Team Headline

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The Ministry of Education, along with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, on Wednesday, March 4, announced that the commencement of spring break for all academic institutions has been pushed forward to March 9, with the last working day to be March 6. Normal classes are scheduled to resume from March 30.

The academic calendar placed the spring break dates originally from March 16 and ending on March 29 which has now moved from March 9 to March 22. The change comes in light of the ongoing regional conflict, with the safety of students and staff at schools and universities as the highest priority.

Classes had transitioned to online learning at the beginning of this week as a precautionary measure for all students and staff, which was further extended up to the end of this week. Exams for students have also been shifted to a remote format, allowing them to complete their assessments safely from home.

Students, parents, and staff are advised to stay updated via official channels only, as the measures aim to protect the safety of all in the education sector.

(By Shura Kola)

Announcements

Inside The Plaza at Uptown Dubai: An open-air venue set to transform the city’s business and events scene

Published

2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

Michael Gomes

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In a city that thrives on bold ambition and global connection, a new landmark has quietly taken its place at the heart of Dubai’s business future.

DMCC has officially opened The Plaza at Uptown Dubai, a 21,000 square metre open-air destination designed to host everything from high-level corporate summits to large-scale concerts and community gatherings.

For UAE residents and business leaders alike, this isn’t just another development announcement. It’s a signal that Uptown Dubai is stepping into a new era.

A new gathering space in town

Strategically positioned at the centre of Uptown Dubai, The Plaza physically connects the iconic Uptown Tower with the district’s wider commercial and residential community.

Designed to accommodate up to 4,000 guests, the venue features advanced staging, lighting and digital display infrastructure, enabling year-round programming and rapid event turnover.

For Dubai’s fast-moving corporate ecosystem, that means seamless hosting of:

Global trade conferences
Finance and technology forums
Industry expos
Cultural performances
Community celebrations

In a city known for world-class event venues, The Plaza adds something different: scale, accessibility and integration within a thriving business district.

For UAE residents, the venue offers more opportunities for networking, collaboration and global visibility without leaving the city.

Next business hub taking shape

The Plaza’s launch comes as Uptown Dubai moves into its next development phase.

Currently under construction:

Two commercial towers (23 and 17 storeys)
62,000 square metres of additional Grade A commercial and retail space

Once complete, the full district will deliver:

538,000 square metres total gross floor area
232,000 square metres dedicated to Grade A commercial office space

What’s in it for residents

For professionals, it means:

More international events are hosted locally
Increased networking and industry exposure
Expanded commercial opportunities

For residents, it offers:

Open-air concerts and cultural events
Community experiences within a premium urban setting
A new social hub integrated into Dubai’s skyline

Announcements

Sheikh Mohammed appoints Abdulla bin Damithan to lead Dubai Ports body as DP World names new CEO

Published

3 weeks ago

February 13, 2026

Michael Gomes

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In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued a decree appointing Abdulla bin Damithan as Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation.

The appointment places one of the UAE’s most experienced trade and logistics leaders at the helm of one of Dubai’s most strategically important economic entities.

A Veteran in Ports and Global Trade

Abdulla bin Damithan brings more than two decades of experience in ports, logistics and international trade. He currently oversees DP World’s operations across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, managing ports, economic zones, marine services and trade solutions.

He previously served as CEO and Managing Director of DP World UAE, where he led strategic growth across key regional markets. He oversees Jebel Ali Port and Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza).

Bin Damithan joined DP World in 2001 and has since held several senior leadership roles, contributing to the company’s transformation into a global provider of smart trade and logistics solutions.

New Leadership Appointments at DP World

Separately, DP World confirmed the appointment of Essa Kazim as Chairman of its Board of Directors, alongside the appointment of Yuvraj Narayan as Group CEO.

Kazim currently serves as Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Chairman of Borse Dubai. He brings extensive expertise in financial and economic affairs, having held senior leadership positions across several national institutions.

Narayan, who joined DP World in 2004, has played a key role in leading strategic and transformational initiatives that strengthened the company’s global footprint.

Serving as Group Chief Financial Officer since 2005, Narayan has been instrumental in enhancing DP World’s financial resilience, operational efficiency and supply chain capabilities worldwide.