Palestinian Champion Majid Al-Tal Soars in the Arab Age Categories with a Gold Medal for Palestine at the 2025 Morocco Chess Championship

SadaNews - In an unprecedented achievement, Palestinian champions shone at the Arab age categories chess championship hosted by the Moroccan capital, Rabat, where champion Majid Al-Tal won the gold medal and the title of International Master (IM), after an exceptional performance that outshone a selection of the most prominent ranked Arab players.

Additionally, player Randa Sidr excelled by securing second place in the female category under 12 years, while Mohammed Sidr won the bronze medal in the male category under 16 years, and player Iman Sawwan achieved another bronze medal in the female category under 18 years.
The Palestinian delegation was able to compete against players from 13 Arab countries, totaling more than 230 male and female players, achieving commendable results that reflect the considerable effort exerted and the serious preparation for the competition.

Palestinian Chess Federation Secretary-General Omar Al-Jabri confirmed that this success was not a coincidence but rather the result of the strategic vision adopted by the federation, represented by its president Bashar Al-Masri, which focuses on developing chess locally through investment in different age categories and intensifying regional and international participation.

He explained that the champions of Palestine in this game have the potential to achieve qualitative achievements that enhance Palestine's presence in major arenas and reflect the determination of the Palestinian athlete to assert themselves and elevate their country's name high in these arenas.
For his part, union member and head of the Palestinian delegation participating in the championship, Issam Ghaith, expressed his pride in the heroic performance of the players, affirming that these results would not have been achieved without the continuous support from the leadership of the federation, while praising the significant cooperation from the Moroccan Royal Chess Federation and the Arab Chess Federation and what they provided in terms of facilities for the success of the Palestinian participation.
He added that the Palestinian participation in the championship came despite the exceptional circumstances the Palestinian people are living through, especially in the Gaza Strip, confirming that chess has become a form of cultural resistance and an effective means of conveying the voice of Palestine and the will of its people to the world.
The delegation included a selection of players: Majid Al-Tal, Mohammed Sidr, Yazid Al-Haik, Tuqa Al-Hamouri, Iman Sawwan, Randa Sidr, along with international Palestinian referee Naji Sidr, who participated in managing the championship, reflecting a full and honorable Palestinian presence at both the competition and the arbitration levels.