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“More than 10,000 runs scored this season shows the step-up in quality of cricket,” says DP World ILT20 CEO David White

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Following the success of DP World ILT20 Season 3 which concluded on 9th February with Dubai Capitals crowned the new champions, league CEO David White expressed delight over the quality of matches, edge-of-the-seat thrillers to the showdown. The grand finale, with a packed stadium, was a testimony to world-class competition as Dubai Capitals chased down the target of 190 runs set by Desert Vipers with just four balls to spare, leaving fans enthralled till the very end.

“I think what summarizes the success of season 3 is the excitement, world class players, and some of the matches going down to the wire. No doubt, this season has been a big step up in the quality of cricket, the scores have reflected that.”

For the first time in DP World ILT20, over 400 (430) sixes were scored and a total of 10,352 runs amassed by the batters in season 3 underscoring the high-octane matches in the star-studded league.

“More than 10,000 runs were scored this season, and we saw some standout individual performances too. The quality of cricket is also largely due to the quality of the pitches we had at our three tournament venues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.”

In addition, he emphasised on the teams developing their own innate personality and team ethos. “The teams, after three seasons, are developing their own culture, personality and it is really coming through. What I am extremely pleased about is the competitiveness on the field, players are passionate and are really into it,” he expressed.

The season witnessed individual brilliance with in-form Shai Hope of Dubai Capitals winning the Green Belt for best batter, MI Emirates Fazalhaq Farooqi claiming the White Belt for best bowler and Sam Curran taking home the Red Belt as MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the season.

Among some of the standout moments this season was home-grown prodigy Aayan Afzal Khan of Gulf Giants picking up four for 16 runs against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders – making it the best figures for a UAE player in the DP World ILT20. The previous record was held by Zuhaib Zuhair with 4 for 22 for Gulf Giants against Sharjah Warriors in the previous season.

UAE’s Farhan Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Aryan Lakra and the experienced Muhammad Waseem too hogged the limelight this season with impressive performances that promises to aide their career with the national squad.    

Elaborating on the impact DP World ILT20 has on developing cricket in UAE, White said, “DP World ILT20 plays a number of roles, from a community standpoint. It’s a great way to connect with the community, we do that with the children playing before the game, the children’s performance to the anthem, and we have a vibrant fan zone for families to come and enjoy together. Using the ILT20 brand to connect with the communities has been very good this season.

From a high-performance point of view, White said, “DP World ILT20 is a critical contributor in the performance programme for the UAE players. I think after season 2, the UAE national team definitely improved, they qualified for the Asia Cup for the first time in eight years. In the third season, the young bowlers have particularly been impressive and for them to be able to out-perform on the international stage and learn from great coaches and players is only good for the UAE national side.”

Future looks bright for DP World ILT20:

The CEO of DP World ILT20, which is the second most-watched cricket league in the world, exuded optimism for upcoming editions and went on to add that increasing the number of UAE players and Associate Member Nations players is realistic. He said, “We are past the start-up stage and I’m very positive of the future. We are starting to see young children back their favourite teams and there is a stable following. We are very conscious of connecting with the community and this year our social media numbers are phenomenal, and in association with Zee, the broadcast numbers are looking very good too.”   

“In my personal opinion, over time, the natural progression of this league is to expand into the Greater Gulf region. We have got so many Gulf nations with cricket fans, and at some stage the expansion could happen. And there is a very strong chance, in the near future, for more than two UAE players and Associate Member nations players to be in the squad.”

On having Indian representation in the league for the following editions, White said, “Everyone knows the rules with the BCCI and everyone respects it. If a retired Indian player is granted release from BCCI and if they are still competitive internationally then of course we would like for them to play in the league,” he concluded.

As a trainee reporter and creative lead, I focus on curating engaging content and managing the social media presence for the company. I aim to connect audiences with relevant, impactful news through multiple digital platforms.

Sports

UAE teen prodigy Rouda Al Serkal ends Norway Chess Open debut on a high

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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.

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CHESS STARS TURN COWBOYS FOR A DAY AT NORWAY CHESS GAMES 2025

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In a dramatic twist from the chessboard to the Wild West, the world’s top chess players swapped pawns for pistols, sieves, and lassos in this year’s edition of Norway Chess Games.

Held on a tournament rest day, the tradition of light-hearted competition continued in unforgettable fashion with the “Chess Cowboy Challenge”, a high-spirited showdown in Westernbyen, a Western-themed village in Ålgård, just outside Stavanger.

This year’s participants was -the star-studded lineup from Norway Chess and Norway Chess Women. Sarasadat Khademalsharieh was unfortunately not able to join, and stepping in was Ella Carlsen, wife of Magnus, proving to be quite the sharpshooter in more ways than one.

Adopting their new Western personas, the players embraced the theme wholeheartedly:

Magnus “The Lone GOAT” Carlsen
Caruana “The Sicilian Sniper”
Hikaru “The Blitz Bandit” Nakamura
Arjun “No Slip” Erigaisi
Wei “The Quiet Storm” Yi
Gukesh “The Chennai Sharpshooter” D

Vaishali “The Rising Rider” Rameshbabu
Anna “Ice Veins” Muzychuk
Humpy “The Hammer” Koneru
Lei “The Lockdown” Tingjie
Ju “No-Loss” Wenjun
Ella Carlsen (stepping in as an honorary cowgirl)

With nicknames as fierce as their over-the-board styles, the competitors were more than ready to tackle the cowboy gauntlet ahead.

The Chess Cowboy Challenge took them through a series of wild tasks. They faced the Sheriff’s memory test in a jail escape, sought enlightenment by solving the priest’s riddle in the chapel, mined for gold, and tried their hand at axe throwing beside the church. Air rifles, lasso tosses, cowboy quizzes at the pleasure house, and classic horseshoe throws added to the flavor of the day, with real horses roaming the scene for that authentic atmosphere.

Each team, made up of one male and one female player, competed across all stations as they worked their way through the village.

Final Standings:

1st place: Magnus & Ella Carlsen — crowned Chess Sheriffs

2nd place: Hikaru Nakamura & Anna Muzychuk

3rd place: Fabiano Caruana & Vaishali Rameshbabu

4th place: Gukesh D & Ju Wenjun

5th place: Wei Yi & Lei Tingjie

6th place: Arjun Erigaisi & Humpy Koneru

About Norway Chess Games

Norway Chess Games is an annual tradition held during the tournament’s rest day. It gives the world’s best players a break from intense competition and a chance to connect in creative, unexpected ways. Previous editions have included:

  • Chess Chefs– a culinary battle where players cooked for top chefs
  • Cake Decorating Challenge– full of icing, sprinkles, and strategy
  • Farmer for a Day– featuring hand-milking cows and driving tractors
  • Design Your Own Knit Sweater– where players designed patterns later hand-knitted into real sweaters as unique keepsakes

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Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli invests in Dubai-founded World Bowling League to take the sport global

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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.

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