Brilliancy

Dubai: The UAE left a mark in the recent Asian Youth Chess Championship through some delectable performances from the young players.

Salem A.R. Saleh, a 14-year-old boy from Sharjah led the pack and went on to emerge as the Asian Youth Under-14 chess champion. It was a splendid show by Salem, who kept his cool against all the opponents from different countries and won the ninth and final round in style.

Lifting the prestigious trophy, Salem proudly said: "I am delighted at having brought honour to my country. Now I want to go on to become the youngest Grand Master."

Salem was in fact echoing the dreams of many promising chess players in the UAE, who regularly practice at the different chess clubs in UAE.

Salem at this age has already won the Arab Junior champion and is a FIDE master IM norm holder. He makes his career moves as intelligently as he makes his moves on the chessboard. He is focused at his aim too.

If Salem can notch a few more points he can emerge as the youngest Arab to become the Grand Master. In fact, Salem has been intelligently pocketing points from the tournaments to quickly realise his dream.

Determined

Salem picked up 2495 points from a tournament in Abu Dhabi and made sure that he comes out with flying colours even in tournaments abroad.

Burning with determination, Salem participated in Moscow Aeroflot tournament and Czech Open and produced a good show.

Salem has been playing continuously in tournaments for the last six months but refuses to be carried away by his success.

After winning the Asian Youth Chess Championship, he said he would take a break to avoid burn out. The biggest advantage for Salem is the availability of talented players around him. He is able to train at his own pace. Salem's two brothers and sister also play chess. It was Salem's father Abdul Rehman Saleh who guided him into playing chess taking him along to the Sharjah Chess Club.

Another promising player is 14-year-od Saeed Ishaq from Dubai. He is also an Arab Junior chess champion. In fact his brother Ahmad Ishaq won the President Cup in Dubai defeating Grandmaster Taleb Mousa. Both brothers hail from a family that plays chess regularly.

Even women's chess is throwing up promising players. Moza Al Mansouri of Al Ain Chess Club is only eight years old but she has stunned opponents much senior to her.

Cultural sport

"The Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Fujairah are the clubs, which have been regularly throwing up fresh talent. Each club has on an average over 150 players," remarked Ebrahim Al Bannai, the President of the UAE Chess Federation, who is also the Chairman of the Arab Chess Federation.

Women's chess clubs too have become very active. The Sharjah Women's Chess Club was opened in 1991 while another club got affiliated with the Dubai Chess Club in 2000.

Incidentally, the UAE Chess Federation itself was established in October 1976 with the objective of spreading and development of chess game as a mental and cultural sport across the UAE. The UAE has a tradition of producing young champions. 12-year-old Saeed Ahmad Saeed was the first to create history when he went to win the World Under-14 championship in 1979 at Mexico.

"The UAE will soon emerge as a very strong chess playing nation. The facilities for playing the game at all the clubs are outstanding. Every club has excellent libraries and good coaches to groom talent. All clubs have computers and even Internet chess is encouraged," remarked International Master Ravi Kumar, who has been training young chess players in UAE for nearly a decade.

Chess popular among youngsters, says Al Bannai

Ebrahim Al Bannai, the President of the UAE Chess Federation has been the guiding force behind the popularity of the game in the UAE.

He makes sure to stage the best of tournaments and provides as much facilities as possible for the players and clubs in the UAE.

So popular has been his ability to spread the game, that he was elected as the chairman of the Arab Chess Federation too.

Bannai is also the President of the popular Dubai Chess and Cultural Club.

“Chess is getting popular in the UAE especially among the youngsters and that is a good sign for the future,'' says Bannai, who is keen on providing as much exposure as possible to the players.

“We try and stage good tournaments and this will provide opportunities for players to watch the top players in action,'' he said.

The support for the game from sponsors too has been outstanding.

Damas a leading jewellers and Sulaiman Al Fahim Group has consistently supported the game.

Damas sponsors youngsters to the tune of Dh500,000 while Fahim Group recently gave Dh6million to encourage seven talented female players.

“We are also keen to promote chess at school level. We send former players and coaches to schools and encourage children to take up the sport and even guide them,'' he said.
According to Bannai the clubs in the UAE are responsible for the rising popularity of the game.

“All the clubs in UAE are very active. They regularly organise tournaments, provide coaching and attract more and more youngsters to the game. We have promising players now emerging from not only Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi but also from emirates like Fujairah, Ajman and Al Ain.''