Rouda Essa Alserkal, a 15-year-old chess player from the UAE, is gaining international attention. She became the first Emirati woman grandmaster after winning the Arab Women’s Championship in Sharjah late last year. Rouda is currently competing in the Norway Chess Open, a major tournament featuring top players from around the world.
Rouda started playing chess at the age of four with her family. She is a Grade 10 student at Al Mawaheb School in Abu Dhabi. She quickly showed talent and joined the Abu Dhabi Chess Club, where she began winning championships. Her success includes winning the World Cadets Championship in 2017 and the Under-20 UAE Championship.
Becoming the first woman grandmaster in the UAE was a historic moment. This title requires high skill and strong results in international competitions. Rouda’s achievement highlights the growing support for chess players in the UAE. The chess community is expanding, especially for young players, though women’s participation is still growing.
At the Norway Chess Open, Rouda is competing alongside world-class grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura. Her first match was challenging, and she lost to Ukrainian Grandmaster Platon Galperin. Playing at this level is helping her improve and gain experience.
Rouda’s next goal is to earn the full Grandmaster title. This requires a rating of 2,500 points, while she currently holds just above 2,100 points. To reach this, she must compete in bigger tournaments and defeat stronger opponents. The path to the full Grandmaster title will be difficult and requires more training and dedication.
Besides chess, Rouda manages her studies as a high school student. Balancing schoolwork and international competition is challenging but important for her future. She aims not only to succeed in chess but also hopes to become a lawyer one day.
Rouda’s story reflects the rapid growth of chess in the UAE. Her success is a sign that more young Emirati girls can pursue chess seriously and aim for high achievements. The future of chess in the region looks bright with new talent emerging.
