DOHA: Qatari national team player Zhou Shen clinched the gold medal in the Women’s Rapid Chess event at the Arab Championship, currently underway in Kuwait and continuing until November 25. The tournament brings together 87 competitors from 18 Arab countries under the supervision of the Arab Chess Federation.
Zhou Shen delivered a dominant performance, securing first place with a perfect 9 points from 9 rounds. She finished ahead of Jordan’s Ruba Al-Qudah, who took second place with 7 points, while Algeria’s Lina Nasr claimed the bronze medal with 6.5 points. Lebanon’s Nadia Fawaz placed fourth with 5.5 points, edging out Jordan’s Bushra Al-Shaibi on tiebreaks, followed by Palestinian player Iman.
Qatari player Ghada Al-Khalifi finished 16th with 2 points.
Zhou Shen has a strong track record, having previously claimed gold in both Women’s Rapid and Blitz Chess at the 2023 Arab Games in Algeria, where she topped the standings with 7 points.
In the men’s results, International Master Hussein Aziz placed 16th in the Rapid category with 4.5 points, while Hamad Al-Kuwari, who scored the same total, finished 19th after tiebreaks.
The championship continues today with the start of the Blitz Chess competitions.
Qatar Chess Federation President Mohammed Al-Modahka expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting that the event has provided valuable exposure to different playing styles while contributing to improved international rankings and strong overall results. He emphasized that the championship features top players from across the Arab world, making it an important opportunity for Qatari athletes to further elevate their international standings.
