Chess: UAE embark on Chess Olympiad journey

The UAE have done quite creditably in chess for many years right from the eighties, and with a rich tradition in maintaining high standards, the nation will be fielding a 10-member squad in the Chess Olympiad taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan from September 1-15.
The UAE will be led by the first GM (Grandmaster) from here, Sharjah's Salem AR Saleh, and Amna Nouman-WIM (Women's International Master) who will play on boards 1 in Baku. Saleh, the former Asian champion and a veteran of the Chess Olympiad since 2008, and Amna showed that they are in prime form when they lifted the President's Cup in Al Ain a fortnight ago, where the UAE men's number two, Fide Master (FM) Saeed Ishaq won silver.

Khaleej Times spoke to Ishaq, now on a Fide (world body) rating of 2,310 after the President's Cup silverware, during a conversation at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club (DCCC) regarding the UAE team's preparations for the showdown in Baku starting this weekend.
"Hopefully if I maintain this run and play well consistently against the higher rated players in Baku, I will be eligible for a IM (International Master) standing provided I do well in at least two more big international events after the Olympiad. A long time wait will come before I can entertain ideas of reaching the initial 2,400 rating before one can be considered for a GM norm." Ishaq, who is making his Chess Olympiad debut, said.
Giving a clearer picture of the UAE squad which will play on five boards each in the men's and women's 15-round event over 15 days, Ishaq of DCCC said he will play Board 3 when the event begins.
He said: "The long drawn championship is one where mental strength and tactics will be put to a severe test. The simultaneous sessions covering an average of approximately four hours on each board per match is the best experience one can get in world chess where one loses count of the GMs, IMs and FMs in action within a fortnight."
"The UAE have a rich tradition in the sport though no UAE player is a 'full time pro' as we also give a lot of time for higher studies, families and daily eight-hour jobs in various offices. I put serious chess on hold for some time when I did my undergrad engineering in civil engineering and grad studies in transportation at Arizona State and MIT in the US. Right now I am at the RTA office till early evening every day, and then rush to train here at the club.
"The top players at the Olympiad will be mostly GMs and IMs who make a living playing chess. The story is completely different here. GM Salem (AR Saleh) to a point can be considered a 'fuller chess player' in our circles but now with his decision to go for full time university education, also makes him a 'part timer' in the context of the word pro," added the 23-year old UAE player who began playing chess at four when his father and uncle taught him the basics.
"For Baku we have Salem (AR Saleh) on 1, Omar Nouman, brother of Amna on Board 2, and me on 3, followed by Jaem Alhuwar on 4 and Mayed Al Rashidi who will be the 'sub'. In case of a higher rated player not playing a particular match, then each one of us will move up to take up the new positions which is where the number five slots onto the 4th board," Ishaq continued.
Chess comes naturally to the Ishaqs and they discuss about the various classical moves of the famous players during conversations. Saeed's brother Ahmed who like him is a former Arab champ, has now taken time off to concentrate on his work and family.
"Though a purely individual sport, training and playing side by side is important before an Olympiad which is only for team chess as you are aware. The UAE men's and women's sides started serious prep work at a camp two months ago and the coaches keep monitoring our progress individually when we are not in a camp," he added.
The UAE contingent for the Baku Chess Olympiad will have long time DCCC coach GM Elmar Magerramo of Azerbaijan as the head coach. The UAE representation in Baku will also see the UAE's Mahdi Abdul Rahim as the tournament's deputy chief arbiter. Rahim is one of the most respected and senior arbiters in Arab chess and is in the top list of the Fide technical committee.
moni@khaleejtimes.com