Nicosia: The Qatar Chess Association participated in an important International Chess Federation (FIDE) meeting held in Cyprus on the sidelines of the ongoing Candidates Tournament.
The high-level gathering, attended by Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association and FIDE Director of International Relations, discussed key topics concerning the future of chess and the international tournament calendar. The Candidates Tournament features eight top male and eight top female players, with the winners of both events qualifying for the World Chess Championship finals.
During the meeting, the FIDE Council praised the outstanding success of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships hosted by Qatar last December, highlighting the event’s high organisational standards and positive impact on the global chess community.
Among the significant decisions taken was the awarding of hosting rights for the 2032 World Chess Olympiad to the African continent, with the specific host country to be announced at a later date. The 2034 edition was awarded to South America.
In January this year, FIDE appointed Mohammed Al Mudahka to oversee the upcoming World Chess Olympiad, which is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 10 to 24.
Speaking after the meeting, Al Mudahka commended FIDE’s efforts under the leadership of President Arkady Dvorkovich to elevate the sport at all levels, expand its global reach, and strengthen its competitive structure.
He noted that the upcoming strategy focuses on further advancing chess across Asia, describing Uzbekistan’s hosting of the World Chess Olympiad as a clear reflection of the region’s growing commitment to the game.
The Qatari national team is set to compete in the prestigious Olympiad, an important milestone that will provide valuable international exposure and help raise the standard of Qatari players.
It is worth noting that FIDE was established on July 20, 1924, during the eighth Olympic Games in Paris, when representatives from 15 national federations came together to form the world governing body for chess.
The participation of the Qatar Chess Association in the Cyprus meeting underscores Qatar’s active and growing role in the international chess community.
