12th Sharjah International Cup for Women is a testament to success and global recognition, says Najla Al Shamsi

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Chess & Culture Club for Sharjah Women will host the 12th Sharjah International Cup for Women.

Alongside Sharjah International Cup for Women, Sharjah Cup for Juniors, Arab Family Championship will also take place during the 10-day long chess events starting from Friday and conclude on December 17.

Bosnian Woman International Master Boric Elena, Slovenian Woman FIDE Master Petra Kejzar, Latvian-American player Viktorija Ni are among the top names competing in the Sharjah International Cup.

The details of the three events were disclosed during a press conference attended by Sheikh Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Mualla, Vice-President of International Chess Federation and President of Arab Chess Federation, Najla Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chess & Culture Club for Sharjah Women, Nabil Muhammad Bin Ashour, Director of Sports and Development Affairs at Sharjah Sports Council, Mohammed Abdullah, UAE Chess Federation the technical director, and Abdullah Al Mazami, the director of the championship's website and chairman of the referees' committee.

Sheikh Saud praised the leading role played by the Chess & Culture Club for Sharjah Women

in promoting and upgrading women's sports and its efforts in developing the game of chess at the local and Arab levels and organizing many chess tournaments and initiatives.

He stressed that the continued organization of the Sharjah International Cup for Women and the wide participation of top stars and players of different nationalities are a testament to its success, strength, and position as one of the best chess tournaments in the world.

“These kinds of tournaments have great gains at the technical and organizational level, and the accumulated administrative experiences of the people of the country,” said Sheikh Saud.

Najla Al Shamsi expressed her gratitude and thanked His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and President of the Sharjah Sports Women's, for their unlimited support for the club's activities.

“Organizing these championships is part of the club's annual agenda in order to achieve the goals set for them, which aim primarily to develop the level of female players and increase their international classification, considering that these championships are internationally accredited, which is in the interest of the national teams,” she said.

Najla also announced the launch of the second edition of the Sharjah Cup for Junior, which will be held during the same period with a wide participation from more than 40 countries, in addition to Arab Family Championship, in cooperation with the Arab Chess Federation.

She also thanked the strategic partners and sponsors of the three tournaments.