KUWAIT CITY, May 13: The 13th and final round of the "Merge" Handball League kicks off at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Complex, featuring three crucial matches. The first match, scheduled for 4:30 pm, pits Al Sahel against Al Tadamon, both seeking their inaugural victory in the league. Following at 6:00 pm is the showdown between Al Fahaheel, with eight points, and Kuwait Club, boasting 22 points. Later in the evening, at 7:30 pm, Yarmouk, with nine points, faces off against Khaitan, with four points.

The clash between Al-Tadamon and Al-Sahel takes center stage as both teams vie for their first win and crucial points to evade the bottom spot in the standings. Meanwhile, the outcomes of the remaining matches hold less significance in terms of impacting the overall standings.

This season's league, spanning 2023-2024, introduced a revamped format following the withdrawal of Al-Jahra and Al-Shabab. The league adopted a "merge" system, integrating all 14 clubs into a unified league for one round before splitting into the Premier League and First Division League.

In the Premier League, the top six clubs, including Kuwait Club, Al-Qadisiya, Kazma, Al-Salmiya, and Al-Arabi, compete for the championship while retaining points earned from the Merger League. Matches are played on a home-and-away basis.

Meanwhile, the First Division League features the eight clubs ranked from seventh to 14th, maintaining their accumulated points and battling for promotion to the Premier League in a single round. With five clubs already securing spots in the Premier League, the sixth and final berth is contested between Burgan and Sulaibikhat.

Khaled El Anzi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff