Ali Thameem
Club Double Eight is the champion of the STO Boduriyaa Championship, having won all seven rounds.
STO Boduriyaa Championship, a three-day club chess tournament with a winner’s prize worth of MVR 50,000/-, was played over ten boards over the weekend, at the Hulhumale’ Chess Arcade.
Clubs fight for ten points in each of the seven rounds, with every player from one club facing another from the opposing club.
Double Eight earned commanding wins in all seven rounds of the championship. The line-up of Double Eight includes some of the greatest chess players in the country: Mohamed Shuaau, Mohamed Rayyan Shakir, Abdhul Samad, Mohamed Hassan, Ahmed Nizam, Abdhul Rahman Ali, Mohamed Raakin Fayaz, Hussain Nimal, Ali Arham, Ahmed Ashraf, Mohamed Hameed, and Nabeel Abdul Muhsin.
Round 1: 8-2 vs Maldives Chess Club
Round 2: (Bye)
Round 3: 9.5-0.5 vs Club Checkmate
Round 4: 10-0 vs Passed Pawns Chess Club and Academy
Round 5: 7-3 vs Castle Chess Club and Academy
Round 6: 7-3 vs Zugzwang Chess Club
Round 7: 8-2 vs Genius Chess Club and Academy
The grand prize of 50,000/- was awarded to champions Double Eight, and the 10,000/- for the runner-up club, Zugzwang Chess Club. Individual awards included player of the tournament, most promising player, and the best female player. Three individuals were awarded the player of the tournament: Ahmed Yameen (Castle Chess Club), Ahmed Aboobakur (Zugzwang), and Hussain Nimal (Double Eight).
The best female player of the championship was secured by Aishath Zaara Shimad of Passed Pawns Chess Club and Academy, while Ismail Aakin Hassan of the same club was named the most promising player.
The championship, organized by Castle Chess Club, featured a diverse pool of players, from nine-year-old’s to veteran players well into their 50s and 60s.
