Masirah Club clinched Chess Clubs championship

MUSCAT, AUGUST 2
Masirah Club Team (A) was crowned champion of the General Chess Clubs Championship after successfully overturning the overall standings in the final rounds, snatching the lead from Salalah Club (A), which had topped the table midway through the competition. Masirah managed to collect 29 points, placing them at the summit of the standings, while Salalah (A) settled for second place. The championship, organised by the Oman Chess Committee, lasted eight days and concluded at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Hall in Bausher.
The tournament, played under the Swiss system of nine rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30 second increment per move, was filled with excitement and challenges among 100 male and female players representing 20 teams from 13 clubs. All rounds saw strong competition, especially in the eighth and ninth rounds, where leading teams fought to secure decisive points for the top spots. Masirah (A) sealed the title in the final round, while Nakhal Club delivered a major surprise by taking third place, surpassing teams that had been in the lead. At the awarding ceremony, Ahmed bin Darwish al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Chess Committee, honoured the winning clubs. Masirah (A) received the gold medal, the championship cup, and a cash prize after scoring 29 points. Salalah (A) took the silver medal and a cash prize with 25 points, while Nakhal (A) finished third with the bronze medal and a cash prize, scoring 22.5 points on tiebreak. Masirah (B) placed fourth, while Salalah (B) came fifth.
Ahmed al Balushi expressed his satisfaction with the technical level of the tournament, saying 'throughout the championship days, we witnessed a high level of competition that reflects the significant development of the game within the Sultanate of Oman. What distinguishes this edition is the balance of power among the clubs, as positions changed right up to the final round. This is clear evidence of the closeness in technical levels.'
He added 'the committee is working under a clear strategy to develop the game. Through these tournaments, we aim to discover talents and refine them through competition and exposure, in preparation for integrating outstanding players into the national team to represent the Sultanate of Oman in international championships. Our goal is to see Omani players achieve international titles and enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s global standing in chess.'
He concluded by saying 'we thank all clubs and players for their commitment and sportsmanship, and we also appreciate the support of partner entities that contributed to the championship’s success. We look forward to future tournaments with higher levels of performance and wider participation.'
The Oman Chess Committee affirmed that the championship aims to create a truly competitive environment among clubs and measure players’ technical levels, noting that these competitions, over their past editions, have contributed to developing players’ abilities, particularly in the general category, which has been reflected in achieving advanced results in international rankings.