National Chess Championship Concludes in Male'
The National Chess Championship concluded after nine competitive rounds, crowning champions in both the Open and Women’s categories and delivering several memorable storylines.
In the Open Category, FM Muhammed Shuaau secured his 6th National Championship title in dominant fashion, finishing with a perfect 9/9 score, defeating every opponent he faced. Entering the tournament as the clear rating favorite, Shuaau was rated more than 200 points higher than every other player in the field, and he lived up to expectations with a flawless performance from start to finish.
A major highlight of the event was the impressive run of Mohamed Raakin Fayaz, who claimed second place, losing only one game — to Shuaau. His strong and consistent play throughout the nine rounds marked one of the standout performances of the championship.
Former champion CM Abdul Rahman Ali finished third, delivering a steady tournament. His only defeats came against the top two finishers, reflecting the strength and competitiveness at the top boards.
In the Women’s Category, WCM Nihaya Ahmed captured her 9th National Women’s Championship title, further strengthening her remarkable national record.
Nihaya’s path to the title was not without challenges. She struggled in the early rounds and was not in her best form, even blundering a completely won position against Aini, resulting in an unexpected loss. However, true to her champion’s character, she bounced back strongly in the following rounds, regaining momentum and composure. Her ability to recover from that setback and finish first ultimately showcased her resilience, experience, and competitive strength.
The women’s event featured a dramatic contest for first place. Fathmath Zoya Hassan Saeed produced a surprising and outstanding performance, leading the tournament until the final stages. However, with both players finishing level on points, the championship was decided on direct encounter tie-breaks, as Zoya had lost her head-to-head encounter against Nihaya earlier in the event.
Completing the podium was Mariyam Laisa Abdul Rasheed, who marked her return to competitive chess by securing third place, an impressive comeback after time away from tournament play.
Closing Ceremony Delayed
Although the championship concluded over the board, the official closing ceremony has been delayed, with no specific date announced by the Maldives Chess Association (MCA). This delay is reportedly due to MCA not having any money in their bank accounts despite generating sufficient amounts to pay players.
Registration fees were set at MVR 500 per player, with 91 players in the Open category and 39 players in the Women’s category, totaling MVR 65,000 collected.
This amount would ordinarily be more than sufficient to cover the prize fund. However, concerns have been raised within the chess community regarding the absence of financial documentation explaining how the collected funds were allocated. Allegations have also circulated involving Nooh Ali (who transferred huge sums of MCA funds to his personal accounts according to MCA bank statement 2025), though no official public clarification has yet been issued by the association.
Players and stakeholders are awaiting transparency regarding prize distribution and the scheduling of the closing ceremony, even as the over-the-board results themselves showcased the continued strength and depth of Maldivian chess.
