The first FIDE rated national championship in Maldives was held at the Social Education Center from 14th-18th July 2011.
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president of the Asian Chess Federation, kindly supported the Maldivian inaugural championship and visited together with ACF Secretary General Hisham Al Taher.
Chess has been played in the Maldives for several hundred years before. But in modern Chess history in the Maldives few events were held and Maldives had only a couple of rated players. During the last few years under the current leadership, Maldivian players had the privilege of playing Chess in India as well as in Sri Lanka.
The Maldives Chess Federation was highly supported by the National Olympic Committee and were allowed to participate in the Asian Games in Doha and China with some more Asian and World Indoor Games. The new Zone President, Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya of Sri Lanka had the vision of making neighboring countries more active and got the Maldivian players to participate in almost all the rating and official events in Sri Lanka.
The Maldives were represented in the Asian Zonal 2011 of FIDE Zone 3.2 and a Maldivian Player won the Bronze medal at the Asian Senior Championships both held in Sri Lanka. So, with this friendship building among the Zone and Maldives Chess Federation (MCF) came the idea of holding the 1st National Chess Championships of Maldives, which was a dream of MCF for more than 20 years.
Some 25 players participated in the event which was a nine round Swiss System event. The best player among women was declared the 1st Women’s National Champion of Maldives. This is a first step in making the Maldives a strong chess playing Nation in Asia.
The Chief Arbiter, Zone 3.2 President Mr. Luxman Wijesuria, gave a lecture on Chess for the school children. Four Students from each school were invited for the event.
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president of the Asian chess federation along with Asian Chess Federation General Secretory Mr. Hisham Al Taher award the champion’s trophy to Mohamed Hassan .
Sheikh Sultan and Maldives Chess Federation president Nooh Ali award the trophy to the top woman player, Nusra .
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president of the Asian Chess Federation, kindly supported the Maldivian inaugural championship and visited together with ACF Secretary General Hisham Al Taher.
Chess has been played in the Maldives for several hundred years before. But in modern Chess history in the Maldives few events were held and Maldives had only a couple of rated players. During the last few years under the current leadership, Maldivian players had the privilege of playing Chess in India as well as in Sri Lanka.
The Maldives were represented in the Asian Zonal 2011 of FIDE Zone 3.2 and a Maldivian Player won the Bronze medal at the Asian Senior Championships both held in Sri Lanka. So, with this friendship building among the Zone and Maldives Chess Federation (MCF) came the idea of holding the 1st National Chess Championships of Maldives, which was a dream of MCF for more than 20 years.
Some 25 players participated in the event which was a nine round Swiss System event. The best player among women was declared the 1st Women’s National Champion of Maldives. This is a first step in making the Maldives a strong chess playing Nation in Asia.
The Chief Arbiter, Zone 3.2 President Mr. Luxman Wijesuria, gave a lecture on Chess for the school children. Four Students from each school were invited for the event.
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president of the Asian chess federation along with Asian Chess Federation General Secretory Mr. Hisham Al Taher award the champion’s trophy to Mohamed Hassan .
Sheikh Sultan and Maldives Chess Federation president Nooh Ali award the trophy to the top woman player, Nusra .
| Inaugural National Chess Championship of Maldives | |||||
| Final Ranking | |||||
| Rank | SNo. | Name | Rtg | FED | Pts |
| 1 | 6 | Mohamed Hassan | 1790 | MDV | 7½ |
| 2 | 2 | Abdullah Ibrahim | 1851 | MDV | 7 |
| 3 | 3 | Ahmed Fuad | 1824 | MDV | 6½ |
| 4 | 1 | Abdul Rahaman Ali | 1912 | MDV | 6 |
| 5 | 5 | Ahmed Ashraf | 1798 | MDV | 5½ |
| 6 | 7 | Abdul Muhsin Yoosuf | 0 | MDV | 5½ |
| 7 | 9 | Abdulla Mufeedh | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 8 | 13 | Ahmed Naeem | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 9 | 16 | Hussain Nimal | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 10 | 4 | Hassan Samir | 1818 | MDV | 5 |
| 11 | 21 | Mohamed Hameed | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 12 | 18 | Ibrahim Zaheen | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 13 | 17 | Hussain Vishaau | 0 | MDV | 5 |
| 14 | 15 | Hassan Nasih | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 15 | 19 | Massood Mohamed | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 16 | 10 | Adam Nasih | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 17 | 14 | Ahmed Saeed | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 18 | 8 | Abdul Rahman Nusra | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 19 | 20 | Mohamed Aftan Smile | 0 | MDV | 4 |
| 20 | 23 | Mohamed Shahudha | 0 | MDV | 3½ |
| 21 | 12 | Ahmed Munsifa Adhil | 0 | MDV | 3½ |
| 22 | 25 | Shamoon Ahmed | 0 | MDV | 3 |
| 23 | 11 | Ahmed Mizann Rashid | 0 | MDV | 3 |
| 24 | 24 | Nashid Nuzha | 0 | MDV | 2 |
| 25 | 22 | Mohamed Sajiu Ismail | 0 | MDV | 2 |
