Doha

Qatar Chess Association President Mohammed Al Mudahka has been appointed Vice President of the Gulf Chess Federation for the 2026–2027 term, in accordance with the federation’s established procedures and regulations. The appointment follows the decisions recorded in the General Assembly meeting held last December.

The Gulf Chess Federation also reviewed progress on the preparation of the unified statutes for Gulf sports federations during its first board meeting of the new term, which was conducted remotely via video conference.

During the meeting, the federation approved the organization of the 2026 Gulf Individual Junior Classical Chess Championship for boys and girls, scheduled to take place in the Emirate of Ajman from 3 to 9 July 2026. The championship forms part of the federation’s strategy to strengthen youth development across the Gulf region while offering prize awards to the top performers.

In an official statement, the Gulf Chess Federation noted that the tournament dates were selected to coincide with the end of the academic year across the GCC countries, a schedule expected to encourage greater participation and increase the overall level of competition among young players.

Gulf Chess Federation President Ahmed Al Raisi welcomed the members of the Board of Directors at the beginning of the 2026–2027 term, expressing his appreciation for bringing together an experienced group of administrators and chess professionals committed to advancing the game throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Al Raisi also stressed that the upcoming period will require closer cooperation among member federations, with a strong focus on developing high-quality programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening the position of Gulf chess on both the regional and international stages.

After confirming the required quorum of seven board members, the Secretary General chaired the meeting, during which participants reviewed several strategic topics related to the continued growth and development of chess across the GCC nations.

The board also discussed a proposal to organize an additional Gulf championship in Oman this November, with ongoing coordination taking place alongside the relevant authorities to complete the necessary organizational and administrative arrangements.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board of Directors approved a series of executive recommendations. These included finalizing the presentation of the amended statutes, completing preparations for the upcoming junior championship, and forming the federation’s permanent committees for the current term to enhance institutional efficiency and support the achievement of its long-term strategic objectives.