Fujairah Global Championship Website Launched, Initial Player List Revealed
The excitement around the upcoming Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025 has reached a new high with the launch of its official website and the release of the initial list of participants. Crucially, this event is a part of the prestigious FIDE Circuit 2025, making it a vital opportunity for players aiming to qualify for next year’s Candidates Tournament. With valuable circuit points at stake, the tournament is expected to attract several big chess stars in the coming weeks. In the initial list, India’s experienced Grandmaster P. Harikrishna leads the roster. Joining him is Zhu Jiner of China, the recent FIDE Women’s Grand Prix winner, who will participate in the 2600+ Superstars category as a special wildcard entry. A total of 27 more names are expected to be added soon, building anticipation for one of the strongest open events of the year. The published lists for the Masters (2200–2599) and Open (U2200) sections are now available on the official website.Read this article for full details!
The Fujairah Global Chess Championship 2025, scheduled from August 24 to September 3, 2025, at the Fujairah Chess and Culture Club, has officially launched its website: fujairahchessclub.com/fgcc/home. The site provides comprehensive information on tournament regulations, prize distribution, registration procedures, payment links, and exclusive hotel offers for participants.
Superstars Tournament (2600+ Rating):
The Superstars section has already confirmed 23 Grandmasters from 14 countries, including:
GM Pentala Harikrishna (IND, 2707)
GM Samuel Sevian (USA, 2694)
GM Jorden van Foreest (NED, 2687)
GM Raunak Sadhwani (IND, 2672)
GM Zhu Jiner (CHN, 2541) – participating as a special wildcard entry
The tournament aims to feature 50 players, with 27 spots still available.
Starting rank
No. |
| Name | FideID | FED | Rtg | sex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GM | IND | 2707 | ||||
2 | GM | USA | 2694 | ||||
3 | GM | NED | 2687 | ||||
4 | GM | IND | 2672 | ||||
5 | GM | ARM | 2666 | ||||
6 | GM | UZB | 2665 | ||||
7 | GM | FID | 2658 | ||||
8 | GM | BEL | 2651 | ||||
9 | GM | UKR | 2644 | ||||
10 | GM | HUN | 2638 | ||||
11 | GM | IRI | 2630 | ||||
12 | GM | UKR | 2626 | ||||
13 | GM | IND | 2624 | ||||
14 | GM | CHN | 2623 | ||||
15 | GM | IRI | 2621 | ||||
16 | GM | IND | 2620 | ||||
17 | GM | ARM | 2620 | ||||
18 | GM | TUR | 2618 | ||||
19 | GM | AZE | 2617 | ||||
20 | GM | GER | 2615 | ||||
21 | GM | GRE | 2611 | ||||
22 | GM | AZE | 2603 | ||||
23 | GM | CHN | 2541 | w |
Masters Tournament (2200–2599 Rating):
The Masters section has attracted 28 titled players from 30 countries, including:
GM Alan Pichot (ESP, 2587)
GM Abhijeet Gupta (IND, 2577)
GM Aditya Mittal (IND, 2547)
GM Misratdin Iskandarov (AZE, 2528)
This category is open to players rated between 2200 and 2599, with a cap of 150 participants.
Starting rank
No. |
| Name | FideID | FED | Rtg | sex | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GM | ESP | 2587 | ||||
2 | GM | ESP | 2578 | ||||
3 | GM | IND | 2577 | ||||
4 | GM | IND | 2559 | ||||
5 | GM | IND | 2555 | ||||
6 | GM | IND | 2552 | ||||
7 | GM | FID | 2549 | ||||
8 | GM | IND | 2547 | ||||
9 | GM | LTU | 2544 | ||||
10 | GM | FID | 2538 |
Youth Open Tournament (Below 2200 Rating):
The Open section has seen registrations from over 30 countries, featuring a mix of emerging talents and seasoned players. Notable participants include:
AIM Vihaan Dumir (IND, 2191)
WFM Arshiya Das (IND, 2174)
WFM Mariya Kholyavko (KAZ, 2130)
This section is designed to encourage young and aspiring talents, with a maximum of 400 participants.
Starting rank
No. |
| Name | FideID | FED | Rtg | sex | Typ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | AIM | IND | 2191 | U16 | ||||
2 | IM | IRI | 2190 | |||||
3 | IND | 2179 | ||||||
4 | CM | IND | 2174 | |||||
5 | WFM | IND | 2174 | w | U16 | |||
6 | IND | 2156 | U16 | |||||
7 | RUS | 2152 | U16 | |||||
8 | WFM | KAZ | 2130 | w | U14 | |||
9 | IND | 2124 | U16 | |||||
10 | WFM | IRI | 2118 | w |
https://www.fujairahchessclub.com/fgcc/home
Official Website Features:
The official website offers:
Tournament Regulations: Detailed guidelines for each category.
Prize Distribution: Total prize fund of $125,000, with $80,000 for Superstars, $30,000 for Masters, and $15,000 for the Open section.
Registration and Payment: Secure online payment links for entry fees.
Accommodation Offers: Special hotel packages for participants, including full-board options and transportation services.
Participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spots, as entries are limited across all categories. For more information and to register, visit the official website: fujairahchessclub.com/fgcc/home.
With the tournament being a part of the FIDE Circuit 2025, it presents a significant opportunity for players to earn valuable points towards qualification for the Candidates Tournament 2026. The anticipation continues to build as more top players are expected to join the lineup in the coming weeks.
Watch this video to see how the club looked a year ago during its construction phase
And now the club is ready to be inaugurated with the championship.
ChessBase India is the official media partner of this prestigious global chess event.