UAE Wins Two Gold Medals in Western Asia Youth Chess Championship

The UAE won two gold medals in the Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship yesterday at the Hili Rayhaan Rotana Hotel in Al Ain, UAE. Al Maamari Wafia Darwish and Latifah Darmaki, both of Al Ain, won gold medals in the girls under-14 and under-10 categories, respectively.

Competing in the tournament organized by the Al Ain Chess Club under the auspices of the Asian and UAE Chess Federations and Abu Dhabi Sports Council are 150 players from 14 countries namely India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and host UAE. Tournaments are conducted for age groups under-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years of age separately among boys and girls. Dr Saif Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Al Ain Chess Club and Tournament Director Tarek Al Taher awarded medals at the closing ceremony.

The Boys Under-18 Medalists are: Gold - Molaei Mohammad Amin of Iran, Silver - Altaher Saeed Tarek of UAE and Bronze - Weerasinghe C C of Sri Lanka.

Boys Under 16 medalists are: Gold - Doluweera Minul Sanjula of Sri Lanka, Silver - Mohamed Marshool of UAE and Bronze - Thilakarathne G M S of Sri Lanka.

Boys Under 14 medalists are: Gold - Sezdbekov Ruslan of Kyrgyzstan, Silver - Saberi Mahan of Iran, Bronze - Piyumantha M Sasith Nipun of Sri Lanka

Boys Under 12 medalists are: Gold - Zomorrodian Eilia of Iran, Silver - Piyumantha M Thisal Manjith of Sri Lanka and Bronze - Ammar Sedrani of UAE.

Boys Under 10 medalists are: Gold - Raji Sayel Abu Azizah of Palestine, Silver - Abdulrahman Mohammad Al Taher of UAE and Bronze - Khalifah Khaled of UAE.

Boys Under 8 medalists are: Gold - Bhagat Kush of India, Silver - Wickramarathne T D of Sri Lanka and Bronze - Soud Jaber of UAE.

Girls Under 8 medalists are: Gold - Galagedara Thehara T Vakeesan of Sri Lanka, Silver - Rouda Essa Alserkal of UAE and Bronze - Serikbay Amina of Kazakhstan.

Girls Under 10 medalists are: Gold - Latifah Darmaki of UAE, Silver - Mahjoob Zardast Artemis of Iran and Bronze - Almaamari Zainab Darwish of UAE.

Girls Under 12 medalists are: Gold - Kodikara K K M Sachintha, Silver - Shah Jiya of India and Bronze - Fatima Al Wahabi of UAE.

Girls Under 14 medalists are: Gold - Al Maamari Wafia Darwish of UAE, Silver - Tharushi T H D Niklesha of Sri Lanka and Bronze - Amal Fadel S M Alshamsi of UAE.

Girls Under 16 medalists are: Tied for Gold - Wickramasinghe Dilhara Ishini of Sri Lanka and Peiris H Pevinya of Sri Lanka and Bronze - Ruwaida Saad Mohsin Al Naseri of Iraq.

Girls Under 18 medalists are: Gold - Methmani Nelunika of Sri Lanka, Silver - Mendis Dasuni Hansika of Sri Lanka, Bronze - Nadalipour Golnaz of Iran.

Next is the blitz championship followed by standard chess championship. Visit chess-results.com for results and standings.


Dr Saif Al Nuaimi, General Secretary of the Al Ain Chess Club awards the girls under-14 gold medal to Al Maamari Wafia Darwish of the UAE


Latifah Darmaki of the UAE won the gold medal in the girls under-10 category


Medalists in the West Asian Youth Rapid Chess Championship