The newly formed Chess Hub concluded its first series of events with tournaments for up-and-coming juniors and veteran players alike over the weekend of 6th and 7th September 2025 at the Sahara Center in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
IM Oliver Dimakiling (third from right), one of the coaches at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club, CM Allayar Shirliyev of Turkmenistan, and Meghan Gabrielle Olandag led the winners of the two-day competitions.
Dimakiling topped the five-round rapid tournament with 4.5 points, while Shirliyev had 6.5 points to rule the blitz event. Olandag also had 4.5 points to win the U16 junior tournament. AIM Reggie Mel Santiago and Marvin Marcos completed the top 3 in the rapid tournament, while Santiago and Dimakiling took the second and third spots in the blitz event. Olandag also received the top lady special awards in both rapid and blitz events.
India’s Udiavar Pragun Pai and Prashant S placed second and third in the junior tournament, respectively. Iran’s Nicky Ebrahimian, on vacation in the UAE with her family, and Sarangi Rakesh of India took the top girl participant and top U12 special awards respectively.
The tournaments were held at The Chess Hub, a new chess centre located at Sahara Centre on the Dubai-Sharjah border. The Chess Hub plans to hold weekly events, including a rapid chess tournament on Saturday (Sept 13) for U1900 player