The Abu Dhabi Sports Council has proved that it is two steps ahead of the game with the launch of an online chess initiative to keep the community engaged while adhering to the UAE’s “stay at home” order.
Held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Chess Club, the initiative is comprised of two digital chess tournaments (one for professionals and one for UAE residents), to take place between Wednesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 15. Participants can play the matches on a computer or mobile device and stand a chance to win big cash prizes.
Here’s what you need to know about the two tournaments:
The Stay Home Abu Dhabi Chess Tournament:
This online event is open to UAE residents only and will take place daily at 7pm from Wednesday, April 8, until Monday, April 13.
How to register
1. Create an account on chess.com.
2. Search for Abu Dhabi Chess Club on chess.com and join.
3. All players must send the following information to adchess@eim.ae via email:
- Their Emirates ID or Residence visa
- Name
- Contact Number
- Home address
Regulations
1. The event will be played in the Grand Prix system with five tournaments in the cycle.
2. Each tournament will be held on the Swiss System of 11 rounds.
3. Time control for each game will be three minutes + one second increment.
4. Top 24 players (according to chess.com tiebreak) from each edition will receive points determining their overall score.
5. Top 24 players according to the number of points accumulated will qualify to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Final to be held on Monday, April 13. Players must play minimum three editions to be eligible for qualifying in the final.
The first place winner of the Stay Home Abu Dhabi Chess Tournament wins Dh10,000, the second place winner gets Dh5,000 and the third place winner gets Dh3,000. Those in the fourth-to-24th position get Dh1,000 each.
Abu Dhabi Super Blitz Challenge
The Abu Dhabi Super Blitz Challenge will take place on Wednesday, April 15, at 9pm. Participation is limited to international title holders registered through www.chess.com (this includes Grand Masters, International Masters, Fide Masters or National Masters). You do not have to be a UAE resident to take part.
The event has already seen some distinguished chess players from all over the world confirm their participation – and more than 500 players are expected to join.
Organised under the supervision of the Abu Dhabi Chess Club, the event will take place at 9pm and will be broadcast on chess.com/TV and Twitch.tv/chess.
Need any more motivation to participate? The prize for first place is $5,000 (Dh18,360), second place is $3000 (Dh11,000) and third place is $1,500 (Dh5,500).
Regulations:
1. Participation is limited to international title holders registered through www.chess.com
2. The tournament will be played under Swiss format of 12 rounds with the top four players to qualify for a knockout stage.
3. The knockout stage will be played over two games.
4. There will be a half-hour break before starting the knockout stage.
5. Time control will be three minutes + one second increment after each move.
A few more ground rules
Participants are allowed to take part in both tournaments as long as they meet the criteria.
All registrations must be done through the chess.com website.
It is forbidden to use assistance from electronic devices during the game and the match rate will be automatically checked through chess programmes via the website. Participants must check devices and internet connections before the tournament starts. All participants must be ready through the site 10 minutes before the start of the tournament.
For more information, email adchess@eim.ae. May the best chessmaster win.
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
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Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
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Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The%20specs
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WEST ASIA RUGBY 2017/18 SEASON ROLL OF HONOUR
Western Clubs Champions League
Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons
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UAE Premiership Cup
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Runners up: Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
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THE SPECS
BMW X7 xDrive 50i
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Transmission: Eight-speed Steptronic transmission
Power: 462hp
Torque: 650Nm
Price: Dh600,000
Slow loris biog
From: Lonely Loris is a Sunda slow loris, one of nine species of the animal native to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore
Status: Critically endangered, and listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list due to growing demand in the global exotic pet trade. It is one of the most popular primate species found at Indonesian pet markets
Likes: Sleeping, which they do for up to 18 hours a day. When they are awake, they like to eat fruit, insects, small birds and reptiles and some types of vegetation
Dislikes: Sunlight. Being a nocturnal animal, the slow loris wakes around sunset and is active throughout the night
Superpowers: His dangerous elbows. The slow loris’s doe eyes may make it look cute, but it is also deadly. The only known venomous primate, it hisses and clasps its paws and can produce a venom from its elbow that can cause anaphylactic shock and even death in humans
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Tentative schedule of 2017/18 Ashes series
1st Test November 23-27, The Gabba, Brisbane
2nd Test December 2-6, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
3rd Test Dcember 14-18, Waca, Perth
4th Test December 26-30, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
5th Test January 4-8, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
