Around 100 chess players in Soran district are getting prepared to set up a local tournament.
“We do not have a chess club, but leagues are being organized every night to evaluate the players,” Muksi Ahmed, a chess player, told Rudaw’’s Andam Jabar on Tuesday.
Chess players have submitted formal requests to the authorities, calling for the establishment of a club in the district.
“The first step is to officially establish a club. We have submitted a request to the Soran administration and thankfully they have expressed their willingness to open a club,” Abdulrazaq Mamandi, head of Soran chess club, told Rudaw.
“With the completion of the legal procedures, we will try to hold a tournament in the Kurdistan Region as soon as possible,” he added.
Chess serves as a valuable tool for community development, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills among players.
Diler Kwestani, a chess instructor, expressed the possibility of conducting weekly chess lessons given the game's intellectual nature, demanding substantial effort and a designated space for play, aligning with the community's affinity for chess in Soran.
The majority of them are seniors with considerable experience in chess, yet they have not engaged in any chess tournaments.
"Sometimes we arrive here at one o'clock, other times at two, and if we are not here by one, there is no room to play because there are only a few spots available," Jadir Adil, a chess player, said.
Numerous chess enthusiasts in the area have been deprived of participation in tournaments held in the region and Iraq due to the absence of a private club.
Chess, a strategic game thought to have its roots in India more than a thousand years ago, has become a worldwide phenomenon with countless devotees. Its complex rules and focus on strategic thought have made it a beloved activity for individuals of all ages and walks of life.