Saudi Arabia hosts 27th GCC Golf Championship in Jeddah

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The 27th edition of the men’s GCC Golf Championship and the 16th edition of the youth event got underway on Sunday at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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The 27th edition of the men’s GCC Golf Championship and the 16th edition of the youth event got underway on Sunday at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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The 27th edition of the men’s GCC Golf Championship and the 16th edition of the youth event got underway on Sunday at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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The 27th edition of the men’s GCC Golf Championship and the 16th edition of the youth event got underway on Sunday at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia hosts 27th GCC Golf Championship in Jeddah

  • Teams from Kingdom, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman competing

JEDDAH: The 27th edition of the men’s GCC Golf Championship and the 16th edition of the youth event got underway on Sunday at the Royal Greens Golf Club in Jeddah, bringing together top players from across the Gulf nations.

Teams from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman are competing in the tournament.

The event highlights the rapid growth of golf in the region and serves as a testament to the Gulf’s increasing prominence on the international golfing stage.

This year’s championship coincides with Saudi Arabia’s Foundation Day celebrations, bringing together high-level sports competition and the Kingdom’s rich history and achievements.

The tournament’s opening ceremony, which was attended by key sports officials and representatives from the Gulf’s golf federations, featured traditional performances and a grand entrance parade, with each nation displaying its flag in a show of regional unity.

Abeer Al-Johani, the director of the Saudi Golf Federation, spoke of the importance of hosting the tournament during the national celebrations.

She said: “We are not only celebrating the launch of the GCC Golf Championship, but also reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s commitment to developing this sport both locally and internationally.

“Through nurturing young talent, hosting major tournaments, and fostering a golf culture among future generations, this event serves as more than just a sports competition — it is a platform for strengthening brotherhood and fostering fair competition among Gulf nations.”


Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship

Updated 16 February 2026
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Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added ‌another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after ​a comeback win over Fabiano Caruana in Germany.
The chess master secured the title with a cautious draw in the fourth and final game, clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponent in Weissenhaus.
Sunday’s turning point came in the thrilling third game, in ‌which Carlsen, ‌35, pulled off a stunning ​win ‌from ⁠a ​seemingly lost ⁠position, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunities to mount a ⁠comeback.
Carlsen has now won 21 world ‌titles in various formats.

 

The ‌World Championship marked a breakthrough ​collaboration between FIDE and ‌private organizer Freestyle Chess, staging the first ‌officially recognized title in this format.
Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularly sweet for the chess great.
In ‌the bronze medal match, Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing ⁠his spot ⁠by drawing from a winning position in the final game.
Both finalists and Abdusattorov have qualified for next year’s championship.
The tournament’s lower placings saw Hans Niemann of the United States take fifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place.
In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s ​Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over ​Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended in a draw.