Staff Reporter
Doha: The Gulf Chess Federation has appointed Mohammed Al-Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, as Vice President for the 2026-2027 term during its first meeting of the new session held remotely via video conference.
The appointment was made in line with the federation’s approved procedures and regulations and based on the outcomes of the General Assembly meeting held last December.
During the meeting, the federation also reviewed updates related to the preparation of unified statutes for Gulf sports federations as part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional governance across GCC sporting bodies.
The board approved the organisation of the 2026 Gulf Individual Junior Classic Championship for boys and girls, scheduled to take place in Ajman from July 3 to 9. The championship forms part of the federation’s strategy to develop youth categories and encourage greater participation through dedicated prize allocations for winners.
In a statement, the federation noted that the tournament’s timing, coinciding with the end of the academic year across GCC countries, is expected to boost participation levels and enhance competition among emerging players.
President of the Gulf Chess Federation Ahmed Al-Raisi welcomed members of the new Board of Directors at the start of the 2026-2027 cycle, expressing confidence that the expertise and professionalism of the board would contribute significantly to advancing chess across the Gulf region.
He stressed the importance of the upcoming phase, calling for intensified cooperation and the development of high-quality programmes and initiatives aimed at elevating the status of Gulf chess regionally and internationally.
Following confirmation of a quorum of seven members, the Secretary-General chaired discussions covering several strategic issues linked to the development of chess within GCC countries.
The meeting also reviewed a proposal to organise another Gulf chess championship in November in the Oman, pending coordination with relevant authorities and completion of organisational procedures.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the council recommended a series of executive measures, including finalising the amended statutes, completing arrangements for the junior championship and forming the federation’s standing committees for the current term to enhance institutional efficiency and support the federation’s strategic objectives.
