Doha: Algerian Jamal Ferhi and Qatari Khaled Al Jamaat claimed the top two places in the 2024 Qatar Rail Chess championship which concluded at the Al Bidaa Station of Doha Metro yesterday (World Chess Day).

The blitz chess tournament’s finals saw the participation of 20 players played according to Swiss system of nine rounds.

While Jamal Ferhi finished with a tally of 8.5 points, Al Jamaat totaled 6 points.

Indian Sagan Albin came was third place also scoring 6 points, while Filipino Ryan Mendoza came in fourth with 5.5 points, ahead of the Kazakh Oleg Em, who had the same number of points.

Among other Qatari players, Khaled Abdul Rahman Al Khulaifi ended 16th (3.5 points), Irfan Muhammad 18th (3 pts), and Hamad Al Kuwari in 19th place with 2.5 points.

The preliminary rounds stage took place at the Qatar Chess Training Center since last Thursday and witnessed the participation of 80 players.

Mohamed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, said the cooperation of Qatar Rail in organizing the tournament comes within the federation’s plan to spread the game of chess and encourages participation.

Al Mudahka pointed out that the tournament demonstrated distinguished levels among the participants and was an opportunity for players to gain experience.

For his part, Ajlan Eid Al Anazi, Head of the Strategy and Business Development Sector at Qatar Rail, expressed his happiness praised the tournament’s competitions since its inception.

Al Anazi explained that efforts are focused on strengthening the position of Doha Metro and Lusail Tram station network as permanent destinations for the country’s residents and visitors, by organizing and hosting various events within it, and transforming the stations from mere transit points into preferred destinations.

He stressed that the tournament is part of Qatar Rail’s social responsibility strategy aimed at establishing various community initiatives.