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UAE’s first-ever Woman Grandmaster Rouda to play in Norway Chess Open
Gulf Today
|April 10, 2025
In a bid to encourage chess players in the Middle East and provide a platform at the global stage, the organisers of Norway Chess — one of the most prestigious tournaments in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) calendar — invited the Emirates’ first-ever female Grandmaster Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 which will see participation from 31 countries.
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In a bid to encourage chess players in the Middle East and provide a platform at the global stage, the organisers of Norway Chess - one of the most prestigious tournaments in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) calendar-invited the Emirate's first-ever female Grandmaster Rouda Essa Alserkal to participate in the Norway Chess Open 2025 which will see participation from 31 countries.
The 15-year-old Rouda was formally presented with the invitation by Kjell Madland, Managing Director and visionary behind Norway Chess, in a press event held at the Seven Seas Hotel in Dubai on Wednesday.
Also present on the occasion was Dr Mansoor AI Tamimi, Vice-Chairman of Technical Committee at Abu Dhabi Chess Club and Mind Games.
Koneru Humpy, two-time women's world rapid chess champion, also joined virtually and wished Rouda ahead of her upcoming events.
The Norway Chess Open 2025 will be held from May 26 to June I at the IMI Forum in Stavanger, attracting both grandmasters and ambitious chess players seeking title norms and valuable competitive experience.
This story is from the April 10, 2025 edition of Gulf Today.
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