The UAE's men's and women's chess teams started strong at the Samarkand Chess Olympiad, each winning their opening matches 4-0. The men's team defeated Grenada, while the women's team beat Trinidad and Tobago, making a confident start to the tournament.
For the men, Ammar Al Sedirani, Abdulrahman Al Taher, Mohammed Saeed Al Yelily, and Ahmed Fareed all won their games. Imran Al Hosani did not play in the first round but will join the lineup for the next match against Moldova, which is expected to be a tougher test. According to the UAE state news agency WAM, the official men's squad for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, announced on 12 September 2026, includes Imran Al Hosani, Ammar Al Sidrani, Mohammed Saeed, Abdulrahman Al Taher, and Ahmed Farid.
The 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand runs from 15 to 27 September 2026, with round 1 played on 16 September and the final round scheduled for 27 September.
FIDE
The women's team-Wafia Darwish Al Maamari, Ahlam Rashid, and Maryam Issa-matched the men's result. Rouda Al Serkal was rested for the first match but will return for the second round against Czechia, as the team rotates its lineup to stay fresh and flexible. WAM reports the women's squad includes six players: Rawda Al Serkal, Wafia Darwish Al Maamari, Ahlam Rashid, Maryam Issa, Moza Nasser Al Shamsi, and team administrator Abeer Ali, giving the team options for rotation throughout the event.
Abdullah Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary General of the UAE Chess Federation and head of the delegation, praised the teams' opening results and called the 4-0 wins a morale boost. He emphasized the need to stay focused and prepared, as the competition will get tougher in the coming rounds. FIDE's day-1 report noted that other top teams, including Uzbekistan, also started with 4-0 wins in the men's section.
These early victories give the UAE teams momentum, but the next matches will be more challenging. The men face Moldova, and the women play Czechia-both expected to require sharper strategy and resilience. The federation's leadership has said the goal is to show the progress of UAE chess on the world stage, not just to participate.
Independent live standings confirm that the UAE men's team scored a 4-0 sweep in round 1, matching the official results posted by Chess-results. In round 2, the UAE men drew Czechia 2-2, remaining unbeaten as the level of competition increased, as reported by Chess.com.
Chess-results and Chess.com
While the UAE chess teams have started well, other national squads have had early setbacks in different sports, as reported earlier in football. The contrast highlights how important a strong start can be in international competition, where momentum often shapes the rest of the campaign.
With both teams showing depth and cohesion, the UAE's approach-rotating players and sticking to a clear strategy-reflects a focus on long-term development. The opening round's clean sweeps set a standard for what the federation expects at this level. If the teams can keep this focus and adapt to stronger opponents, the Olympiad could become a milestone for UAE chess.
