NLA participates in activities of SCCC on International Chess Day

On this occasion, an exhibition of photos was organised documenting aspects of the history of chess in the UAE, the most important chess events in which the country participated in, including pictures of the champions, and the UAE’s involvement in several local, Gulf, Arab and international chess events that had a great impact, and aspects of the UAE leaders’ receptions of the participants. 

Fatima Al Mazrouei, Head of the Historical Archives Department at the NLA, presented a lecture on UAE’s chess journey, during which she reviewed the history of chess in the world, and touched on some important events in the history of this game. 

She pointed to the legends of chess and the extent of their relationship to this game, which changed the careers of some people and added an important dimension to their careers.

Within the United Arab Emirates, she reviewed the history of the establishment of the UAE Chess Federation in 1976 and the most important clubs that fall under its umbrella and its responsibility for organising chess competitions within the country, noting that it is considered one of the most important organisations affiliated with the International Chess Federation, and the championship achieved by Saeed Ahmed Saeed as a representative of UAE in 1979, he defeated Mexico in the Youth Chess Championship, and following that victory, he was received by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Al Mazrouei pointed out the importance of the role of youth in building the country and its intellectual development. The lecture shed light on the UAE’s hosting of the 27th Chess Olympiad, and the most important decisions, decrees and laws that formed the federations, associations and clubs under the umbrella of the Chess Federation since the establishment of the federation and the developments of the game of chess in the UAE.