Doha [Qatar], September 29: The Qatar National Chess Team won category E gold medal at the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 28 September 2026, with the participation of 206 countries.
The national team comprised of five players: Hamad Al Kuwari, Irfan Mohammed, Turki Al Kuwari, Khalid Al Jumaat, and Mohammed Jerbi. The Qatari players delivered impressive performances throughout the Olympiad and concluded their campaign by securing first place in their category.
Qatar's participation also witnessed notable individual achievements. National team player Khalid Al Jumaat earned the title of Candidate Master (CM), while Mohammed Jerbi achieved the title of FIDE Master (FM). In addition, the players made significant gains in their international ratings.
The Olympiad competition featured five categories: A, B, C, D, and E.
The Uzbekistan national team won the open section title, followed by India in second place and Germany in third.
On the administrative side, Mohammed Al Mudahka, Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and President of the Qatar Chess Association, participated in the FIDE General Assembly meetings held on the sidelines of the Olympiad.
Several Qatari administrative officials also took part in the event, including Ms Zhu Chen, FIDE Treasurer, and Hamad Al Tamimi, Advisor to the FIDE Events Commission and Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association.
Qatari international arbiters Yousef Khalil Al Mohannadi and Sara Al Muhannadi were also among the officiating team responsible for managing the Olympiad competitions.
Commenting on the achievement, Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed his delight with the team's success in the Samarkand Olympiad, praising the outstanding performances delivered by the players.
He highlighted that the squad included a number of promising juniors and young players who succeeded in earning international titles and achieving important gains in the world rankings.
Al Mudahka stated that winning the gold medal represents a valuable addition to the accomplishments of Qatari chess and will further strengthen the players' standings in the FIDE rating list.
He emphasized that the Qatar Chess Association will continue its efforts to develop the national teams through comprehensive preparation programs and participation in international tournaments, helping players prepare for future competitions and enhancing Qatar's presence on the international chess stage.
Source: Qatar Tribune
