MUSCAT: The Oman national youth chess team is set to take part in the World Cadet Chess Championship, hosted in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from September 19 to 30. The event will bring together more than 800 young players from 84 countries, competing across the under-8, under-10, and under-12 categories at the renowned Baluan Sholak arena.
Representing the Sultanate of Oman are three players: Azan al Maamari (under-8), Yousuf al Maawali (under-10) and Abdulaziz al Hinai (under-12). The delegation is accompanied by Basma al Sudairi, Secretary of the Oman Chess Committee, who is overseeing the administrative arrangements to ensure a motivating environment for the players during the championship.
Despite the challenges of distance and the difficulty of gathering for in-person camps, the Oman Chess Committee implemented an intensive virtual training programme under the supervision of coach Basheer al Qadeemi. The training focused on strengthening players’ strategic thinking, time management, and ability to analyse complex board positions, preparing them to face highly ranked players from some of the world’s strongest chess schools.
Basheer al Qadeemi said: “Over the past period, we worked on preparing the players physically and mentally through regular online training sessions. We focused on simulating situations they may face in the championship, with special emphasis on time management and avoiding tactical errors. We know the competition will be tough, with strong international players, but we trust in our players’ abilities to deliver performances worthy of Oman’s reputation.”
He added: “Our main goal is for the players to gain direct exposure in the world’s largest junior chess competition, returning with improved skills and invaluable experience. We are not only aiming for results, but also focusing on building a generation of chess players capable of competing in the future.”
The Oman Chess Committee has high hopes for this participation, not just in terms of achieving strong results, but also in providing the players with the opportunity to gain vital experience by competing against the best junior players worldwide. This experience will positively impact the game’s development at the local level.
The committee confirmed that this participation is part of its strategic plan to nurture young talent and prepare a generation capable of representing Oman in continental and international events. This championship serves as an important benchmark to assess players’ levels against international standards.
The World Junior Chess Championship is considered one of the most prestigious events of the International Chess Federation (Fide). Throughout its history, it has produced some of the greatest names in world chess, many of whom went on to become world champions or top-ranked players. For this reason, Oman’s participation carries significant importance, placing its players in direct competition with advanced chess schools and contributing to raising the overall standard of the game in the country.
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