Sharjah 24: The third edition of the Ali Saeed Abu Khalil International Chess Championship was launched Thursday evening at the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, in memory of one of the founders of the club, and the game of chess in the country, with the participation of 137 international players from 16 countries competing until the 28th of this December.

The launch saw the attendance of Sheikh Dr. Khalid bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, accompanied by members of the club’s board of directors.

Omran Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, confirmed that the club’s organisation of this tournament, which bears the name of the late Ali Saeed Abu Khalil, is only a modest appreciation for his great giving, his sincere efforts, and his hard work during his long career in service to youth and sports in the country.

The late Ali Saeed Abu Khalil is considered the founding father of chess in the country in general and the Sharjah Chess Club in particular. He is also considered one of the sports figures who witnessed the sports movement in the UAE since the beginning of the seventies.