Al Ain: The Asian Chess Federation has chosen His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as the Personality of the Year for his donation to set up the biggest chess club in the world.
The decision was announced on Wednesday by Shaikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President of Asian Chess Federation (ACF), at a press conference. The federation also announced a host of other top ranking players, chess clubs, and federations, while launching the First Annual Asian Chess Excellence Awards.
The ceremony, held at the Danat Hotel in Al Ain, was also attended by Casto Abundo, deputy president of the ACF, and Hesham Al Taher, secretary-general of the ACF.
The awards, which were approved by the Asian Continental Assembly last October in Tallin, Estonia, will be conferred at an annual celebration to be held in Al Ain.
Al Taher said the award had been given to Dr Shaikh Sultan for his vision to see chess as a tool for nation building and for the inspiration he has given to young people.
He added that Dr Shaikh Sultan had also played the leadership role in social interaction and dialogue among nations at local, regional and international levels.
Talking about the ACF’s president, Al Taher said the efforts of Shaikh Sultan over the last eight years have helped the ACF to make numerous achievements.
“The awards highlight Shaikh Sultan’s efforts for the chess [world],” he said.
The number of Asian federations have increased to 50, with more federations activated, new events introduced, in different categories for both individual and team events.
The number of Asians who are world champions in various categories has increased and Asia has many new qualified technical people and coaches, the secretary-general said.
The FCA named Viswanathan Anand of India as Player of the Year in recognition of his long reign as World Champion and recent events where he earned the right for a return match for the title.
Hou Yifan of China has been declared as Woman Player of the Year. Grand Master (GM) Yu Yangyi of China was named Best Junior Player of the Year in recognition of his winning the 2013 World Junior Championship and 2013 Asian Indoor Games chess event.
Woman Grand Master (WGM) Zhansaya Abdul Malek of Kazakhstan was named Best Girl Under-20 after she placed runner-up in the World Girls Chess Championship of 2013. F.M. Li Di of China was named Best Youth Player of the Year in recognition of his winning the Gold Medal in the 2013 World Youth Championship Under-14.
Abdusattorova Bakhora of Uzbekistan was awarded the Best Girl Youth Player of the Year award after she tied for first place in the 2013 World Youth Championship Girls Under-14.
GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam was awarded the Blitz Player of the Year for his outstanding performance in winning the World Blitz Chess Championship 2013.
Jinwoo Song of Korea was declared as Best Organiser of the Year in recognition of his successful organisation of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2013 chess event.
Manny Pacquao of the Philippines was recognised as Chess Patron of the Year.
Al Taher said the All India Chess Federation is the Most Active Federation while the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was honoured for organising the Event of the Year.
The Chinese Chess Association bagged the Best Team of the Year and the Best Women’s National Team of the Year awards.
The ACF named GM Evgeny Vladimirov of Kazakhstan as Best Coach of the Year while the Saudi Arabia Chess Federation shares the Best Chess Movement of the Year award together with the Lao Chess Federation.
Meritorious Service Awards were announced for Miyoko Watai, longest serving president of the Japan Chess Association, septuagenarians and octogenarians Hussain Gholi Saloor of Iran, Emad Galayini of Palestine, Mohammad Murad Suker of Lebanon, International Master (IM) Manuel Aaron of India and Phil Viner of Australia who have exhibited exemplary records as either chess leaders or arbiters.
