Doha: The Qatar Chess Association successfully organized the second edition of the Government Primary Schools Chess Championship, held as part of the “Naqla” project.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Ministries of Sports and Youth, and Education and Higher Education, welcomed 280 young players from 12 schools across the country.
The event featured two separate tournaments — one for boys’ schools and another for girls’ schools — each conducted over five competitive rounds.
Mohammed Al-Mudahka, President of QCA, emphasized the significance of the event, noting that the tournament is part of the ongoing “Chess in Schools” program.
“This initiative aims to promote chess among young students, expand the pool of competitive players at the grassroots level, and increase the number of players registered with the International Chess Federation (FIDE),” he stated.
Al Mudahka also praised the impressive skill levels and understanding of the game demonstrated by the young participants.
Executive Director of QCA, Hamad Al Tamimi, highlighted the importance of QCA’s partnership with key ministries in developing the championship.
He noted that the tournament stages were highly competitive, revealing promising new talents who are expected to strengthen Qatar’s chess foundation in the coming years.
Al Tamimi also extended his gratitude to all participating schools for their support and efforts in encouraging their primary-level students to take part, making the event a resounding success.
The QCA continues to focus on its strategic vision of broadening the reach of chess across the country.
It regularly organizes training and educational programs that teach the benefits of chess at school stages, methods of instruction, arbitration rules, and tournament organization. These efforts also include training teachers to coach school teams and hosting annual inter-school competitions, laying a solid foundation for the future of chess in Qatar.
