Ministry of Sports to launch Chess Digital League next week

The Ministry of Sports (MoS) is set to launch the ‘Chess Digital League (CDL)’ next week, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), the UAE School and University Sports Federation (UAESUSF), the UAE Chess Federation, and several local and educational entities.

The event will kick off on Tuesday. Held under the slogan ‘Your Move. Your Moment’, the championship seeks to promote school sports and identify talented students across various age groups.

The competition offers students from all school cycles (1 – 2 – 3) the opportunity to showcase their cognitive skills in chess within a cutting-edge digital environment. This initiative underscores the UAE’s continuous efforts to encourage sports activities despite the current situation and strongly position mind sports as an important part of the country’s comprehensive sports ecosystem.

The qualifying stage of the CDL is scheduled to be held over two days, on April 14-16, under three categories: Cycle 1, Cycle 2, and Cycle 3. Students in each category will compete separately, with the top six players from each group qualifying. A total of 18 players will advance to the final ‘Masters’ round, where the overall champion will be determined. The prize pool for the qualifying rounds and Masters competitions surpasses AED 60,000.

Sheikh Suhail Bin Butti Al Maktoum, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Development and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Sports and President of the UAESUSF, said: “Our efforts in the sports sector continue to reinforce school sports in the UAE and offer students opportunities to develop their athletic and cognitive skills. This competition reflects the strong affirmation that the UAE, under the guidance of its wise leadership, continues as a model of security and stability across all fields despite unprecedented situations. It further highlights the Ministry’s commitment, alongside its partners, to ensuring the continuity of sports activities and transforming challenges into meaningful opportunities for innovation, including student sports programs, within a safe and competitive environment during remote school hours.”

 Sheikh Suhail added: “The ‘Chess Digital League’ plays a pivotal role in boosting students’ strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities and reinforces talent advancement in the national sports sector by offering a strong competitive platform for students. This competition also aligns with our belief that the journey to creating champions begins at schools.” Furthermore, he noted the key role of families in creating a positive environment for children to develop their athletic and cognitive abilities in a way that strengthens UAE sports.

Eng. Mohammed Al Qasim, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, affirmed that the launch of the ‘Chess Digital League’ reflects the Ministry’s direction toward providing a supportive and stimulating learning environment that enhances students’ quality of life. He noted that focusing on mind sports—foremost among them chess—contributes to developing critical thinking, analytical, and decision-making skills, strengthens students’ competitiveness, and offers them broader opportunities to discover their abilities and refine their talents through innovative approaches that encourage creativity and positive challenge.

He added that this initiative is the result of a strategic national partnership that reflects the integration of roles among relevant entities, opening wider horizons for students to engage in enriching educational experiences that enhance their life skills, reinforce positive values, and provide a space for interaction, knowledge exchange, and building relationships based on constructive competition. He also emphasized that investing in such initiatives represents a fundamental pillar for discovering and nurturing talent, and for preparing a generation capable of reinforcing the UAE’s position in the future of national sports and elevating its competitive standards.