Salem Abdul Rahman shines in the ASEAN Electronic Chess Championship

International grandmaster Salem Abdul Rahman, a player for the UAE national team and the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club, achieved a new achievement for Emirati chess by taking fifth place in the ASEAN Electronic Chess Championship, which was held in the Thai capital, Bangkok, with the participation of 22 players from the elite masters of the game in the world, led by Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen.

The tournament was held with the support of the Thai Chess Federation and government digital innovation initiatives, as part of efforts to promote mental sports and benefit from modern technologies, as it formed a unique platform that combines the ancient strategy of chess with the atmosphere of advanced electronic competitions, which contributed to attracting an elite group of the most prominent players on the international scene.

Salem Abdul Rahman gave an outstanding performance during the tournament, topping the second group with 3.5 points, after achieving three victories and one draw without any loss, confirming his technical readiness and ability to compete with the biggest stars of the game.

The UAE champion continued his brilliance in the group stage, benefiting from his great experience and distinguished mental presence, to succeed in reaching the quarter-finals well deservedly, and once again prove his position among the most prominent chess players on the Asian continent.

In the quarter-finals, Salem fought a strong confrontation against the great Mexican international master Martinez Alcantara, which ended in favor of the Mexican player, stopping his career at this round, before clinching fifth place in the overall standings of the tournament.

This achievement reflects the continued presence of Emirati chess in international forums, and also confirms the prestigious position enjoyed by Salem Abdul Rahman on the global stage, as one of the most prominent Arab and Asian players capable of competing in the strongest international tournaments and facing the game’s elite stars.