Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club clinches UAE Cup Rapid Rating Team 2025
Al Ain ACMG1 scored an unbeaten 16/18 to win UAE Cup Teams Rapid Chess Championship for Institution and Communities 2025. The team comprised of GM Vladislav Artemiev and reigning World Rapid champion, GM Volodar Murzin. Artemiev scored a perfect 9/9 and Murzin 7/9. Shams Team scored sole 15/18 to secure second place. GM Viorel Iordachescu scored 7/9 and IM Mokhliss El Adnani contributed 6/9 towards their team. Three teams scored 14/18. Out of them, the third seeded, Sharjah, maintained their place. GM Salem Saleh 6/9 and GM Bassem Amin 7.5/9 were part of Sharjah. The total prize fund of the tournament was AED 40000. The top three prizes were AED 12000 + trophy, 8000 and 6000 each respectively. The cash prizes were sponsored by National Paint and Sidrat Alsalwa Beauty Centre. Photo: Rayjan Solano
ACMG1 becomes unbeaten champions
The winner, Al Ain ACMG1 registered seven match wins and two draws. The draws were against Al Ain ACMG1 and Sharjah Coaches in Round 7 and 9 respectively. GM Vladislav Artemiev is the only player to score a perfect 9/9. His teammate, the reigning World Rapid champion, GM Volodar Murzin scored 7/9. World Rapid 2018 champion, GM Daniil Dubov played for Al Ain ACMG2 and scored 7/9. His counterpart for the team was GM Parham Maghsoodloo who scored 7.5/9. The top seeded team finished fourth according to tie-breaks.
L to R: ACMG CEO Hisham Al Taher, GM Volodar Murzin, UAE Chess Federation President - Taryam Matar Taryam and GM Vladislav Artemiev.
A total of 110 teams were represented by 220 players including 13 GMs, 9 IMs, a WGM and three WIMs took part from 31 countries across the world. The two-day nine round Rapid Rating Team tournament was organized by UAE Chess Federation at Dubai Chess and Culture Club in Dubai, UAE on 15th and 16th March 2025. The time control of the event was 10 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move no.1.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Team | Games | + | = | - | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ALAIN ACMG1 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 102 |
| 2 | 6 | Shams Team | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 93,5 |
| 3 | 3 | Sharjah | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 106 |
| 4 | 1 | ALAIN ACMG2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 102 |
| 5 | 5 | Signature Club Master | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 98,5 |
| 6 | 4 | We Chess | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 104 |
| 7 | 8 | Sharjah Coaches | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 94 |
| 8 | 7 | Alain ACMG3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 94 |
| 9 | 16 | EKCC1 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 87,5 |
| 10 | 36 | Signature Club Nexus | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 84 |
