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World’s best knights to descend in Dubai for Global Chess League

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Hou Yifan, left, and Magnus Carlsen are among a stellar field for the inaugural Global Chess League.

The Tech Mahindra Global Chess League (GCL) have announced the complete list of players for the upcoming inaugural edition, to be held at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club from June 21 to July 2.

The GCL, in association with the Dubai Sports Council, will feature reigning world champion Ding Liren, the top-ranked chess player and five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, and four-time women’s world champion Hou Yifan, among others.

Grandmaster Liren, said: “Global Chess League appeared to be a fantastic opportunity from the moment I heard about it. Not only is it an interesting format, but also, as an Icon player, I get to contribute to an exciting concept that will change the face of the chess world for years to come. Further, knowing that GCL will see participation from players worldwide, it will be a strong field, and I look forward to meeting all the players.”

A five-time world champion, and the reigning four-time rapid chess world champion, Carlsen’s peak Fide rating has been the highest in chess history. “Chess is played by many people worldwide, but it needs to catch up to other major sports as a spectator sport, and I am optimistic that GCL will contribute significantly to this.”

All teams will compete in a one-of-a-kind joint team format at GCL, with each team consisting of six players with a minimum of two women chess players per team. Besides Liren and Carlsen, four former world champions will add to the thrilling level of competition – 2021 rapid world champion Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 2008 blitz world winner Leinier Domínguez, three-time blitz world champion Alexander Grischuk, and Daniil Dubov (2018, rapid).

The league will also feature top female superstars, including Grandmaster (GM) Hou Yifan, the second highest-rated female player of all time. She was the youngest female player ever to qualify for the title of grandmaster at the age of 14.

There will be six teams with each accorded an icon player and two women players in the mixed-team GCL. The full list of icon players is yet to be finalised.

Yifan will be accompanied by WGMs Koneru Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, Kateryna Lagno, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tan Zhongyi, Nana Dzagnidze, Bella Khotenashvili, Nino Batsiashvili, Irina Krush, International Master Polina Shuvalova, and 2018 European women’s champion in rapid chess, Elisabeth Paehtz.

Yifan said, “Global Chess League has already sparked widespread interest. GCL is certain to take the game in new directions and open doors, which have never been explored before. Chess fans all over the world are in for a treat.”

Six U21 players will also compete in the GCL, with the trio of Grandmasters, Praggnanandhaa R., Raunak Sadhwani, and Nihal Sarin, leading the pack of prodigies for India. GMs Jonas Buhl Bjerre, Javokhir Sindarov and chess prodigy GM Andrey Esipenko complete the list of players in the category.

ALSO READ: Anand sees ‘new beginning’ in Dubai with GCL

In addition to the players mentioned above, the GCL will feature several other superstars of chess, including Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi, Gukesh D, Arjun Erigaisi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Yi Wei, Yu Yangyi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Richard Rapport, Kirill Shevchenko, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Salem Salah.

Jagdish Mitra, the GCL board chairman, said, “Apart from being great players, all of them have been ambassadors for the game in their respective countries and worldwide. With them on board, GCL only adds another feather to its cap in becoming a true game changer for the chess ecosystem by introducing a mixed-team format in chess. This is a true testament to our belief in providing equal opportunities to all, regardless of gender.”

 

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Dubai’s new DEWA headquarters is world’s tallest energy-positive government building

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Dubai has just unveiled another futuristic landmard, and this one could redefine sustainable government buildings worldwide.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated Al Sheraa, the new headquarters of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in Al Jaddaf.

Mind-blowing  numbers

Dubbed the tallest, largest, and smartest energy-positive government building in the world, Al Sheraa is designed to produce more energy than it consumes, making it a major milestone in Dubai’s sustainability journey.

The building features:
• 110,000 smart sensors
• 1,500+ wireless access points
• 3,200 connected smart devices
• Over 1.9 million automated control commands daily
• Solar energy systems generating up to 5 MW of electricity 

The building combines cutting-edge AI, automation, and renewable energy technologies to create a next-generation workspace focused on efficiency and sustainability.

Calling it a “global architectural icon,” Sheikh Mohammed said the project reflects Dubai’s leadership in innovation, smart technology, and green energy.

From AI-powered systems to solar-powered operations, Dubai is once again showing the world what the cities of the future could look like 

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Why Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the most Instagrammable landmark in the world

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The iconic Burj Khalifa has added another global title to its long list of records, this time as the world’s most Instagrammable landmark.

According to the latest Instagram Attraction Index, Dubai’s famous skyscraper secured the top spot globally with more than 10 million tagged Instagram posts and approximately 1.1 million monthly searches, reinforcing its status as one of the most photographed destinations in the world.

Developed by Emaar Properties and officially completed in 2010, the Burj Khalifa rises 828 metres into the Dubai skyline with more than 160 floors, making it the tallest building on the planet.

Designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the tower has become one of the UAE’s most recognisable landmarks, attracting millions of visitors every year for its observation decks, fountain shows and skyline views.

Among the countless images shared online, some of the most visually striking photographs of the Burj Khalifa have come from Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose social media posts frequently capture Dubai from dramatic perspectives.

From lightning storms illuminating the tower to sunrise scenes above the clouds, Sheikh Hamdan’s photography has played a major role in showcasing the landmark’s cinematic appeal to audiences worldwide.

The Burj Khalifa’s popularity on Instagram reflects Dubai’s broader rise as a global tourism and lifestyle destination, where architecture, luxury experiences and futuristic cityscapes continue to attract international attention.

For many visitors, photographing the tower has become almost a mandatory Dubai experience, whether from the Dubai Fountain promenade, a rooftop overlooking Downtown Dubai or even from inside the clouds during winter fog season.

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UAE: Parents can now attest school certificates in just 3 minutes

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The UAE has introduced a major digital upgrade for parents and students, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sharjah Private Education Authority launching a new system that allows academic certificates to be issued and attested online in just minutes.

    Activated through the Dalil platform, the service combines certificate issuance and attestation into one streamlined digital process, removing the need for families to navigate multiple platforms or complete separate applications.

    Officials said the move is part of the UAE’s wider Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, designed to simplify services, reduce paperwork and create a better, more user-friendly digital experience.

    Previously, parents often needed to complete up to three separate procedures involving schools, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE missions abroad. Under the new integrated system, the entire process can now reportedly be completed in around three minutes instead of taking up to six working days.

    The platform allows users to issue academic certificates through SPEA while simultaneously obtaining attestations from MoA and the relevant UAE mission in the destination country through one unified digital window.

    Officials described the initiative as another step towards building a fully connected digital government ecosystem focused on convenience, efficiency, and smarter public services.

    The new service is expected to particularly benefit families applying for university admissions, overseas transfers, and official educational documentation both inside and outside the UAE.

    Why is certificate attestation needed?

    School certificate attestation is the official process of verifying and certifying the authenticity of a student’s educational documents. This ensures that academic records and other important certificates are legally recognised by authorities in the UAE.

    The process is often required for several key purposes, including school admissions, university applications, student visa procedures and confirming the validity of educational qualifications for use inside the country.

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