Al Ain:Continental chess presidents and senior international officials inaugurated the fourth edition of the FIDE World Junior Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Al Ain. The opening day concluded with five players sharing the lead in the Open category and three players tied for the top spot in the Girls' category, all achieving perfect scores after three rapid rounds.
According to Wam, the championships are organized under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, by the Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club in cooperation with FIDE and the UAE Chess Federation. The event, hosted at the Danat Al Ain Resort from 1 to 7 November, features 150 players from 40 countries.
The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Sultan bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, and other notable figures such as Bernard Wanjala, President of the African Chess Confederation, and José Antonio Carrillo Pujol, President of the Confederation of Chess for the Americas. Also present were Javier Ochoa de Echagen, FIDE Honorary Vice-President, Hulkar Tohirjonova, President of FIDE's Central Asian Zone, and Özgr Solakoglu, FIDE Technical Delegate.
Sheikh Sultan welcomed the players and delegations after the UAE national anthem, emphasizing the championship's significance in fostering young talent through competition and camaraderie. He expressed appreciation to key figures and organizations supporting the event, including H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The championship coincides with Al Ain's recognition as the Arab Capital of Tourism for 2026, offering participants a chance to explore the city's cultural heritage. Javier Ochoa delivered a FIDE address before Sheikh Sultan officially opened the championships, accompanied by ceremonial opening moves on the top boards.
In the Open category, Artem Uskov, Pranav V, Praneeth Vuppala, Satbek Akhmedinov, and Artiom Stribuk led the standings. In the Girls' category, Zarina Nurgaliyeva, Valeria Kleymenova, and Umida Omonova shared the lead. The UAE's Hamad Essa Al-Blooshi and Husain Ali Alhammadi each scored two points, while Rouda Essa Alserkal secured 1½ points in the Girls' event.
The championship continues with nine rapid rounds until 4 November, followed by blitz competitions on 5 and 6 November. Al Ain has hosted major chess events, including the World Cities Chess Championship in 2012 and the World Youth Chess Championships in 2013, reflecting its commitment to being a world-class community sports institution.