Ali Thameem
Mujahid Bin Yazeedh’s rise from a beginner to one of the highest-rated chess players in the Maldives wasn’t scripted from the start—he stumbled into chess at age 12 by happenstance.
Little did he realize that within a few short years, he would go on to change the landscape of Maldivian chess; becoming a national champion and a key player in the country’s success on the international stage.
It all began in grade six when Mujahid attended an academic booster tuition. During Ramadan, his teacher would bring chessboards and playing cards to pass the time.
At first, Mujahid had no idea how to play. But two of his classmates, both younger than him, already knew the rules. Fascinated, he began watching them closely, picking up the basics move by move.
He didn’t own a chessboard at the time and, knowing his family’s financial situation didn’t want to ask his mother to buy one. But a friend soon gifted him a tiny chessboard, and with it, Mujahid’s journey truly began.
Mujahid’s love for the game was enhanced by one of his relatives. Mujahid discovered that one of his uncles was a chess hustler, playing street chess “raazuvaa,” at different hangouts around the street corners of Malé.
Once he realized their shared passion, his uncle began visiting regularly, engaging Mujahid in long, intense battles over the board. Hours would slip by unnoticed as they pondered over the moves, steadily deepening Mujahid’s understanding of the game.
Entry into Competitive Chess
His dedication soon paid off. In 2017, still just 12 years old and in grade six at Iskandar School, he competed in the 3rd edition of the Interschool Chess Championship. The same year, he won first place in the Under-14 Boys category at the Junior National Championship. This victory earned him the opportunity to compete in the Asian School Chess Championship held in Sri Lanka the same year.
His talent was undeniable—he earned a place on the Maldives’ national chess team, a remarkable feat for someone who had only just begun playing competitively.
“I never imagined being on the national team right off the bat. I never really considered myself to be at that level yet. So I kept on playing more tournaments”
Between the ages of 13 and 16, Mujahid consistently competed in both junior and senior national tournaments. He dominated the junior category, winning all championships except during the COVID-19 pandemic. His progress in the senior national tournaments was equally impressive—at age 14, he ranked 20th in the open category.
By 15, he had climbed to 7th place, and at 16, despite balancing his O’Level exams, he finished in 3rd place, earning his place on the senior national team.
In 2018, Mujahid participated in the national chess championship for the first time. That year also marked a significant milestone in his career—he received his first-ever FIDE rating of 1100.
A year later, he delivered an outstanding performance in the Interschool Chess Championship, scoring the highest individual points, which secured him a spot in the prestigious Commonwealth Chess Championship in India.
What’s more impressive is that, Mujahid never had a professional coach. But beyond the chess community, people from the wider public started to notice Mujahid’s talent.
“I never had a coach, I only had a guide. So what happened was, in 2020, a person named Vishau, who runs a club, reached out to me since the people at the association said I had the potential. He asked me if I had the proper resources, then gave me a couple of chess books to read in a certain order, and handed me a chess board. So I followed his instructions and went along playing tournaments”.
King’s Gambit, Accepted
It was 2022. The eruption of online chess around the globe has had its ripple effect on the Maldivian chess community; 45 participants competed in the open category – the highest ever at the time.
For Mujahid, one of the most intense moments came in the 7th round, where he nearly defeated Ahmed Ashraf, one of the two FIDE Masters in the Maldives. A single blunder, however, cost him the game—a harsh but valuable lesson.
The most surprising moment of the tournament arrived in the 11th and final round when Mujahid faced FM Mohamed Shuaau, the highest-rated and arguably the greatest chess player in Maldivian history. Undaunted by the challenge, Mujahid opted for an irregular opening, playing the bold King’s Gambit (1.e4 e5, 2.f4), and won!
Despite this remarkable win for Mujahid, the more-experienced Shuaau went on to defend the championship. But Mujahid ended the 2022 tournament with a bronze medal, scoring 8 points across 11 rounds.
Later that year, Mujahid was part of the Maldives national chess team which took part in the Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India. Competing in category E together with teammates Shuaau, Ashraf, Fuad and Abubakr, Mujahid and the Maldives national team made history by winning the country’s first-ever gold medal in a team event.
Becoming National Champion, and Rivalry with Shuaau
In 2023, Mujahid competed in the national tournament while managing his A-level studies.
He faced the veteran Ashraf in round 3, and triumphed.
Then he faced the defending champion Shuaau in round six. Mujahid played as black, and opened with the Sicillian Defense.
Mujahid played with 72.4% accuracy, against Shuaau’s 67.2%. With checkmate in one move (Ke5,Rf8#), Shuaau resigned.
Mujahid went on to win the rest of the rounds. And with that, he made history – at just 17 years old, Mujahid Bin Yazeed became the youngest-ever athlete to be crowned the Maldivian chess champion, breaking his rival Shuaau’s record.
Subsequently, his world ranking skyrocketed from around 130,000 to approximately 45,000, as his FIDE rating jumped from 1533 to 1839.
Heavy is the Crown
With the success of 2023 National Championship, Mujahid was nominated for Athlete of the year in chess at the Maldives Sports Awards.
But the year 2024 was the most demanding of Mujahid’s career; Balancing the expectation of defending the National Championship while making time for his final year at high school.
In their encounter in 2024, Shuaau won the game; Mujahid had played a different opening yet again – the Scotch Game.
“We went into a bishop-and-pawns endgame. Could have been a draw, but Shuaau is very accurate in the endgame”
Mujahid lost the 2024 national title to Shuaau, but his 4th place finish was still a result he could take pride in—it secured his spot on the national team once again.
Right after finishing his A-Level exams, Mujahid seized an opportunity to compete in the Asian Amateur Chess Championship 2024, held in Dubai, UAE, in December. Battling 103 players from 32 different Asian countries, he claimed the bronze medal in the Men’s Rapid Under-2000 category.
His achievements in 2024 were further recognized when he was nominated for Athlete of the Year in Chess for the second time.
Struggles and Sacrifices
Unlike his international rivals—who compete in up to two classical tournaments a month—Maldivian chess players often endure gaps of six months to a year between classical tournaments. This irregularity makes it difficult to gain consistent experience and rating improvements, admits Mujahid.
“If you want to improve in chess or any other sport, you should constantly put yourself in a competitive environment. Otherwise, you won’t progress.”
Mujahid says he could have won gold at the Dubai tournament, if he had gotten sufficient amount of competitive chess on the lead up to the championship.
Adding to his frustrations, Mujahid had to choose between his final exams at school and his national team spot at the Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest. The Olympiad could have led to his first FIDE title. But he prioritized the A’level exams.
It was a painful sacrifice, but one that eventually paid off. “With A’levels, I got fifth rank in top 10, with a scholarship, Al’hamdhulillah”.
Strategic Play: Mujahid’s Approach to Tournament Preparation
Mujahid prioritizes consistent training over last-minute preparation. Beyond the regular lessons in opening and endgame strategy, he believes in playing the long-game; reading chess books to sharpen the mind, while emphasizing physical endurance, an often-overlooked aspect of chess.
“A tournament lasts nine days, with rounds stretching up to five hours. Sitting and calculating for that long is as exhausting as an endurance sport”
To stay sharp, he incorporates swimming, football, and sprinting into his routine, ensuring both body and mind are ready for the intense demands of competition.
When choosing an opening move, Mujahid favors 1.e4 as White, aligning with his aggressive, attacking style. As Black, he typically responds with 1…e5, but his choice varies depending on the opponent. At higher levels, he occasionally shifts strategies to push opponents into unfamiliar territory.
What’s Next for Mujahid?
The journey continues. The national championship remains a key event on Mujahid’s calendar, along with the Asian Amateur Chess Championship. There are also indications that the Western Asian Chess Championship may return to the Maldives this year—a tournament held in A.A. Ukulhas three years ago.
Looking ahead, it seems inevitable that Mujahid will secure his first FIDE title—his progress leaves little room for doubt. But in the grand scheme of his chess career, he is aiming for something far greater: becoming the first-ever Maldivian Grandmaster (GM).
Given the breakthroughs he has achieved and his impressive rise in rankings, it’s a challenge well within his grasp.
