Doha, 10 October 2023 - Qatar Chess Association's preparations to organize the third edition of the Qatar Masters Open 2023 continued. Attracting an elite of the most prominent world champions, the event will start on Wednesday and continue until October 20 at the Lusail Sports Arena.
250 male and female players from 42 countries, including 62 senior international grandmasters and representatives of 16 Arab countries, are participating in the tournament, with India having the largest number as 76 male and female players will take part.
Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association Hamad Al Tamimi affirmed the completion of all arrangements for the international tournament to kick off.
In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Tamimi said that Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, world No 1 and a five-time world champion, is expected to arrive tomorrow in Doha, where he will make his third appearance after having previously participated in the 2014 and 2015 editions. The rest of the participating grandmasters who have arrived are American Hikaru Nakamura, Dutchman Anish Giri, Indian Dommaraju Gukesh, Kazakh Bibisara Assaubayeva.
The Qatari team includes Fahd Al Mansouri, Mohammed Al Qassabi, Hamad Al Kuwari, Mohammed Al Khayyat, Turki Al Kuwari, Mohammed Al Subaie, Amer Al Hammadi, Tamim Al Ghanim, Hamad Al Fahd, Ahmed Al Khanji, and Ahmed Saif. In the women's category, Kholoud Al Khulaifi, Asma Al Hammadi, Fatima Al Hammadi, Layan and Rawda Al Qassabi will participate.
The tournament organizing committee seeks to organize an entertainment program for the stars participating in the tournament during the rest day to introduce them to the atmosphere of Doha and a number of tourist attractions.
The Qatar Masters Championship is considered to be one of the strongest open tournaments in the world, but it was also classified as the strongest open tournament in the world in the previous editions 2014 - 2015 due to the participation of a selection of the best international adult players who lead the world ranking list, and the tournament has gained a lot of publicity and public attention.
