Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), in collaboration with the Qatar Chess Association (QCA), concluded the fourth edition of the Qatar Rail Chess Open on July 20, with Grandmaster Victor Bologan emerging as the tournament winner by scoring 8 points. The event, held as part of Qatar Rail’s social responsibility initiatives, aimed to foster community engagement across the Doha Metro and Lusail Tram station network.

The tournament coincided with this year’s World Chess Day celebrations and attracted a broad field of both professional and amateur players representing various nationalities and age groups. Preliminary rounds began on July 17 at the Qatar Chess Training Centre, where participants were divided into two groups competing under a knockout format to determine qualifiers for the final stage. The concluding rounds took place at Al Bidda Station on the Doha Metro on July 20, featuring a high level of competition among the finalists, followed by an awards ceremony.

Azerbaijan’s Fugar Asadli also scored 8 points but placed second due to the tie-break system. Indian player Saravanan Advaith secured third place with 6.5 points, while Loyola Robinson from the Philippines finished fourth with 6 points. Other notable finishers included Johan Gupsy and Albin Sajjan, both from India, who placed fifth and sixth respectively, as well as Qatar national team members Erfan Mohammed and Khaled al-Jumaat, who placed seventh and ninth.

Abdulla Ali al-Mawlawi, director of Communications and Public Relations at Qatar Rail, highlighted the organization’s commitment to supporting community and sports activities within Qatar. He noted that sponsoring the chess tournament aligns with Qatar Rail’s efforts to encourage diverse segments of society to engage in intellectual sports and expressed eagerness to continue cooperation with the Qatar Chess Association.

Mohammed Ahmed al-Mudahkan, president of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership, emphasizing its contribution to promoting chess at the community level. He remarked that the sustained collaboration over four consecutive years had enhanced interest and participation in the game across Qatar.

Beyond its transportation role, Qatar Rail continues to engage with various stakeholders to implement community initiatives designed to enhance social interaction and create stimulating environments within metro and tram stations, supporting learning, entertainment, and communication for residents and visitors alike.