Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
For 16-year-old Saif Al Blooshi, every chess match carries a lesson: never underestimate the player sitting on the other side of the board.
For a family that travelled from Uzbekistan with five children competing, the lessons are patience, hard work and learning how to handle pressure.
And for Polish Grandmaster Bartosz Socko, coach of the UAE national women's chess team, bringing young Emirati players face-to-face with international grandmasters could help accelerate the development of the UAE's next generation of chess talent.
These are some of the stories emerging from the 32nd Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, where 2,250 players from over 50 countries are competing until August 24.
Aletihad spoke to organisers, coaches, players and families about how chess builds concentration, patience and critical thinking from an early age.
Saeed Al Khouri, Chief Arbiter – Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, said the event has grown into an international platform bringing together different generations, abilities and nationalities.
For Al Khouri, the festival is designed to make the game accessible across society. "We wanted everyone to have an opportunity to participate, whether they are amateurs, professionals, juniors, People of Determination or participants aged over 50."
That inclusivity is also helping introduce more Emirati families to chess. Al Khouri said the festival has prompted parents to enquire about training and future participation for their children. "We have already received enquiries from parents who want their children to train and take part in future editions."
The interest matters because, he said, chess can help children develop abilities useful well beyond competition. "Chess is a mental sport that can help children develop skills such as patience, concentration and decision-making."
And as participation grows locally, Abu Dhabi is preparing for an even bigger international stage. "Abu Dhabi will also reach an important global milestone in 2028 when it hosts the Chess Olympiad, with participation expected from around 200 countries."
For coach Socko, international exposure is one of the festival's greatest advantages for emerging Emirati talent. "It is a great opportunity for young talents in the UAE to meet very strong players, including some of the strongest players in the world," he said.
Socko, who comes from a different chess development system in Poland, said young players in the UAE have valuable access to international expertise through local clubs. "It is a great chance for young players from the UAE to get to a higher level."
Playing stronger opponents is only part of that development. Chess, he explained, trains children to analyse situations, anticipate what could happen next and make decisions accordingly. "Analytical thinking for children is very important, and chess is good for developing it."
At elite level, however, technical ability alone is not enough. Mental and physical preparation also influence how a player performs under pressure. "The players should be happy, eager to fight and ready to fight."
For Socko, bringing international grandmasters and emerging talent into the same competition creates an environment where young players can observe, compete and learn.
Al Blooshi, who plays for the local host club Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games, is experiencing those lessons from the other side of the board. Having started playing chess in 2024, he said one of the first demands of the game is learning to maintain concentration for long periods. "The two most important things are concentration and the ability to remain focused in one place for a long time."
But chess has also taught him not to judge an opponent before a match begins. "You should always expect the unexpected from every opponent." Even when players study previous games and prepare for a particular style, Al Blooshi believes rankings or past performances should never determine how seriously an opponent is taken. "Don't say this player is below me or above me."
His experience at the festival has also shown him how the environment surrounding the board can affect performance. "It is one of the best tournaments I have experienced in terms of organisation."
His experience has even opened up another possible future in the sport. Rather than only pursuing competition, Al Blooshi is becoming interested in helping other players. "I am currently considering two paths: continuing to develop as a competitive chess player or moving towards becoming an arbiter."
Sevara Mamadaliev travelled from Uzbekistan where five of her six children are competing at the Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival for the first time. Among them are Asadbek Abdulazizov, competing in Open A; Asilbek Abdulazizov, competing in the Masters; and Asmina Abdulazizova, competing in Open B.
"Because it is an international tournament, it is a very good experience for them," Sevara said. "First of all, it is endurance, patience and hard work."
For the children, the tournament is also teaching lessons beyond winning and losing. Asmina highlighted the importance of time management: "It is important to control your time during the game because sometimes it can affect your position."
Asilbek reflected on the mental aspect of development: "I learned how to think and be patient."
And Asadbek stressed the effort required to improve: "Chess is a game where you need to work hard to succeed."
