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From Checkpoints to Checkmate: This chess family's incredible journey to UAE from Palestine
Naji Seder, a former Palestine national champion, brought his son and daughter to 'represent the oppressed people' of their homeland in Abu Dhabi Chess International Festival
- PUBLISHED: Mon 25 Aug 2025, 1:27 PM
Crossing three international bridges and paying hefty fees at each checkpoint, the Seder family from the West Bank embarked on an exhausting journey to reach Abu Dhabi's chess festival. But for them, representing Palestine on the international stage makes every obstacle worthwhile.
Naji Seder, 46, discovered chess at the age of 16 and went on to become Palestine's national champion multiple times. Now an international arbiter and internationally recognised instructor, he has passed his passion to his children, who are currently competing at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival.
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"I started playing since I was young and became a national champion, so when I brought my kids, I knew I had to teach them chess, and I'm glad that they have made me proud," Naji told Khaleej Times.
His son Mohammed Seder, 16, became one of Palestine's youngest national chess champions at the age of 15 and has claimed the Arab chess championship three times, including one victory in Sharjah. "My father started teaching me chess at the age of 4, giving me hard tactics to solve and progress. He was my first coach, and he is my main supporter for my chess journey," Mohammed said.
Eleven-year-old Randa Seder gained recognition as the youngest participant at the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. The young prodigy has won Palestinian championships in her age group and finished second in the ladies' section this year. She now competes alongside her brother at the Abu Dhabi festival, both representing the Palestinian Chess Federation.
The family's journey to the UAE proved as challenging as any tournament. Travelling from their home in Alkhalil city in the southern West Bank, they crossed three official bridges: Allenby, then Sheikh Hussein, and finally Wadi Araba, each adding delays, costs, and uncertainty to their trip.
"We had to cross three bridges at exact timings and had to pay hefty amounts just to get to the airport. Travelling from Palestine to anywhere in the world is tiring and exhausting, but at the end, it's all worth it when my children bring my head up with their achievements," their father explained.
The family faces daily challenges in their homeland, where recent statistics reveal more than 905 people have been killed and 7,370 injured in their region. Despite these hardships, they remain committed to their chess careers and their homeland.
"We are here to represent our people and show our strength amidst hardship and scrutiny. I have many relatives who are now martyrs and many chess friends who were martyred in Gaza. These types of things push me more to resist and put Palestine as number one in any stage I can," Mohammed said.
When asked why they chose to remain in the West Bank rather than relocate to a safer place abroad, the family's response was unified: "The reason we are winning and pushing ourselves in tournaments is because we represent our oppressed people. If we leave our land, then others will, and we will never allow that to happen."
For the Seder family, each chess move carries the weight of representation, resilience, and hope for their homeland's future.
Ahmed Waqqas Alawlaqi is the youngest Special Correspondent, reporting from Abu Dhabi on youth, AI and innovation, and human-interest stories. His work brings exclusive perspectives from the Capital, highlighting voices that shape the UAE's future.