Roza Eisa Alserkal scored an impressive win over a higher-rated opponent as the UAE women's chess team drew 2-2 with the Czech Republic, ranked 36th in the world, in the second round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. Official results confirmed the draw, with neither side taking the match. This brought the UAE women to 3 team points and 6 board points after two rounds, keeping them in the hunt as the tournament continues.
Alserkal's victory came against Joanna Worek, rated 2278, while Alserkal herself holds a rating of 2036. Wafia Darwish Al Maamari drew with Anna Lutska, and Moza Nasser Al Shamsi split points with Tereza Rodshtein. The team's only loss was Ahlam Rashid's game against Lucie Rybakova. Overall, the result was a strong showing against a favored opponent. After two rounds, the UAE women had 2 match points and 6 board points, placing them mid-table according to official standings.
"After two rounds, the UAE women's team was ranked 83rd by starting number, while the Czech Republic held the 36th seed, highlighting the significance of the draw against a much higher-seeded opponent."
- Chess-Results
The UAE men's team had a tougher day, losing 3.5-0.5 to Moldova after their opening win over Grenada. Imran Al Hosani managed a draw with Yegor Lashkin, but Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Taher, Ammar Al Siderani, and Ahmed Fareed all lost their games. The men now have 2 team points and 4.5 board points, and next face Georgia, the tournament's second seed.
The women's next match is against Brunei, offering a chance to add to their points. With each round, the standings can shift quickly, and both UAE teams are competing in a field full of experienced international squads. FIDE's review of the second day noted that most favorites in the women's section won as expected, but the UAE's draw with the Czech Republic stood out as a notable result against a higher-rated team.
"The match card for round two officially listed Joanna Worek (2278) for the Czech Republic and Rouda Essa Alserkal (2036) for the UAE on board one, confirming the substantial rating gap overcome in this encounter. Independent chess media, including Chess.com, also reported the 2-2 draw, further validating the result outside national sources."
- FIDE and Chess.com
Chess often produces upsets, and the UAE women's result shows how teams can earn points against higher-ranked nations. These kinds of performances are important for long-term progress, a lesson seen in other UAE sports as well. The UAE chess teams are showing resilience and ambition, and their upcoming matches will test their depth against strong competition.
