Sports

Top chess players to kick off global league in Dubai?

Published

2 years ago

April 22, 2023

After couple of red herrings in announcements, the final touches to the proposed Global Chess League are being applied, and the latest buzzword is that Dubai will likely host the inaugural season.

Touted as the world’s largest and first-ever league-styled chess tournament, the dates, format and now the logo has been confirmed for the next biggest thing in the sport.

Set to be held from June 21 to July 2, the GCL had its logo unveiled symbolically 64 days before the event makes the first official move at a yet undisclosed location. Briefly the organisers, with Indian maestro Vishwanathan Anand as mentor, tinkered with the concept of a phygital format due to Covid.

But Headline understands the event will now begin at the world hub of the UAE. Dubai can facilitate a central location for the six teams with six players each, including a minimum of two female players and one icon player per team.

A representative picture of the Indian chess team which participated in the 2022 Olympiad

The GCL is a joint venture by FIDE and Tech Mahindra. The logo, depicting the 64 squares from the chess-board, was launched on Wednesday, to set off a 64-day countdown.

The logo for GCL

Anand, a five-time world chess champion, said, “As we inch closer to the start of the tournament, we are seeing all our plans come to fruition. The GCL logo is a reflection of the vision that we have for the tournament. We hope the fans will like the concept and theme we created here. The primary objective of GCL is to promote the sport of chess globally and make it visually attractive for the masses.”

Each team will compete in 10 matches in the rapid format across all six boards in the tournament.

Sutovsky Emil, CEO, FIDE, said, “GCL aims to change how chess is played, viewed and visualised globally. We are only a few weeks away from the inaugural season, and we are happy to launch the official logo of the league. FIDE looks forward to an exciting debut of the GCL in June 2023.”

A scene from the Queen’s Gambit film to depict the mixing of gender in chess.

The top two teams after the round-robin format will progress to the final. The winning team will bag the World Champion Franchise Team crown.

Jagdish Mitra, GCL board chairman, said, “We believe, GCL represents a new beginning in chess, and the carefully designed brand identity, representing chess in its majestic glory, is the first step in that direction.”

The league will also set the standards for technological innovations in chess as FIDE and Tech Mahindra are exploring innovative ways to promote the game through interactive technology-enabled platforms by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, among others.

Related Topics:#UAE Chess Dubai Featured Global Chess League logo Tech Mahindra Vishwanathan Anand

Staff Reporter

Sports

UAE eyes Olympic future with World Boxing membership

Published

20 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Michael Gomes

The UAE Boxing Federation is taking a major step onto the global stage, officially applying for World Boxing membership after receiving approval from the National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports.

The decision comes hot on the heels of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Executive Board proposal on Monday to include boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) Olympic Games program. The final decision will be made during the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece, from March 19-21, 2025.

This development follows World Boxing’s provisional recognition by the IOC in February, officially positioning the organisation as the new global governing body for the sport. It replaces the International Boxing Association (IBA), which has been banned by the IOC since 2019 due to governance and financial issues.

UAE Boxing Federation Secretary-General Hassan Al Hammadi confirmed that the country was among the first Arab and Asian nations to back the newly established World Boxing, following necessary approvals from the country’s sports authorities.

“We have obtained official approvals, and our membership application will be submitted before the end of the week as we prepare to join World Boxing,” Al Hammadi stated.

“Our goal is to ensure UAE athletes can compete at the highest level, including the Olympic Games, while meeting the required rankings and standards. Every athlete dreams of representing their country with pride, and we are committed to making that a reality,” he added.

Founded on April 13, 2023, World Boxing currently boasts 78 member federations and was created to restore credibility and integrity to the sport. With the IBA’s expulsion from the IOC, boxing at the Paris 2024 Olympics is being overseen directly by the IOC, ensuring fair competition and governance.

(Source: Wam)

News

DP World ILT20 to sponsor Ramadan cricket tournament in Dubai

Published

4 days ago

March 15, 2025

Staff Reporter

Staying true to their commitment to develop and support UAE cricket, particularly at the grassroots, DP World ILT20 will sponsor the Ramadan cricket tournament to be held at the ICC Academy Oval 1 and 2 in Dubai from 13 March to 3 April 2025.

The 22-day tournament will feature 10 domestic teams including the Dubai Cricket Council Starlets, Karwan Cricket Club, Emirates Fly Better, Seven District, Prospero Properties, Dubai Dare Devils, Consolidate Shipping Service, Z Games, Lexington Shot Guns, and GHK Properties, with over 200 players vying for the top prize. Each team will play nine single round-robin league games followed by semi-finals and the final. The tournament will be live streamed on both YouTube and Facebook.

Speaking about lending their support for the event David White, CEO of DP World ILT20 said, “It is DP World ILT20’s endeavour to support and nurture local talent in UAE. With 220 players turning up for the Ramadan cricket tournament, it’s a great opportunity to see and encourage emerging talent. We stay true to our commitment of developing cricket at the grassroots and I wish all the players the very best.”

The DP World ILT20 season 3 recently concluded with Dubai Capitals emerging as the new champions. While the league has been a global success, the DP World ILT20 amongst its many initiatives, continues to support domestic cricket at the grassroots level to help in the growth and development of the emerging local talent.

Sports

Dubai to host 3,000 world-class athletes from 40 nations for biggest aquatics championship

Published

6 days ago

March 13, 2025

Michael Gomes

Dubai is gearing up to host its biggest Dubai International Aquatics Championships (DIAC) yet, with 3,000 athletes from 40 countries set to compete. The event will bring together top swimmers, divers, and water sports athletes for a series of high-level competitions.

Organisers are expecting strong performances and a dynamic atmosphere, further cementing Dubai’s reputation as a key destination for international sporting events.

Held at the iconic Hamdan Sports Complex from March 21 to April 20, 2025, this month-long aquatic extravaganza will feature five adrenaline-pumping water sports, drawing some of the fiercest competitors on the planet.

From high-flying dives to electrifying swimming showdowns, fans are in for a thrill-fest like no other. Here’s what’s making waves on the schedule:

Diving (March 21-23) – Expect gravity-defying stunts as the world’s best divers fight for gold!
Water Polo (April 5) – A brutal battle in the pool where only the toughest teams will survive.
Open Water Swimming (April 5-6) – A true test of endurance in the ultimate long-distance aquatic war.
Synchronised Swimming (April 12-13) – Grace meets grit as teams deliver flawless, jaw-dropping routines.
Swimming (April 18-20) – The grand finale! Speed demons will leave it all in the water in a blistering race to the finish.

Organised in collaboration with the UAE Swimming Federation and top local academies, this championship is set to be an unmissable spectacle for fans of all things fast, fierce, and aquatic.

(Source: Wam)