Doha [Qatar], July 3: Qatar's Khaled Al Jumaat emerged champion of the Hyatt Plaza Open Blitz Chess Championship (Under-16)which concluded yesterday at Hyatt Plaza Mall after an exciting day of competition organized by the Qatar Chess Association.
A total of 65 players took part in the FIDE-rated tournament, which was played over seven rounds using the Swiss system with a time control of three minutes plus a two-second increment per move. The event offered young players the opportunity to gain valuable competitive experience while improving their international ratings.
The championship featured closely contested matches throughout, with little separating the leading players. The battle for the top positions went down to the final round, with several standings decided on tie-breaks.
Al Jumaat topped with six points, edging India's Alpin Sajan, who also finished on six points following a tie-break. India's John Jobsey secured third place with 5.5 points, ahead of compatriot Ram Madinidi, who also scored 5.5 points but finished fourth on tie-break.
India's Saketh Konomalkathil and Hari Rajesh shared fifth and sixth places with 5.5 points each, while Adveth Saravan and Shwetan Anaspuri finished seventh and tenth respectively with five points.
Among the Qatari players, Hamad Al Kuwari placed eighth and Ibrahim Al Janahi finished ninth, with both scoring five points.
The Qatar Chess Association and Hyatt Plaza honoured the top 10 finishers.
Al Jumaat's title-winning performance underlined the growing strength of Qatar's young chess players and reflected the country's continued investment in developing talent across all age groups.
Now in its fifth edition, the tournament has established itself as one of Qatar's leading community chess competitions, attracting strong participation from players and families while contributing to the steady growth of the sport in the country.
Source: Qatar Tribune
