QCF launches fourth edition of ‘Chess in Schools’ project, ‘Niqlā’

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 19, 2026

The Qatar Chess Federation has launched the fourth edition of its “Niqlā” program to promote chess education in schools across the country through teacher training and curriculum integration. This initiative aims to increase student participation, expand the national pool of competitive players, and enhance cognitive skills while preparing educators to manage school chess activities and tournaments.

The Qatar Chess Federation (QCF) has launched the fourth edition of its “Chess in Schools” initiative, titled “Niqlā,” aimed at promoting chess education and expanding the pool of players across the country. The program is a collaborative effort involving the QCF, the Ministry of Sports and Youth, and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

The project, which includes participation from both public and private schools, seeks to integrate chess into the school curriculum and extracurricular activities. As part of the initiative, the federation recently conducted a “Chess and Education” training course at the Chess Training Centre. The course was attended by male and female teachers and focused on equipping educators with the skills necessary to teach chess and oversee related activities within their schools.

Course content covered the benefits of chess across different educational levels, instructional techniques using the ChessKid website, and an introduction to arbitration rules and procedures for organising school-level tournaments. Additionally, the training emphasized preparing teachers to manage school chess teams and coordinate annual interschool competitions.

Mohamed al-Mudhahka, president of the Qatar Chess Federation, described the latest edition of the program as a key element in broadening chess’s reach and fostering a deeper chess culture within educational institutions. He highlighted the role of the annual training course in developing qualified instructors who can facilitate student learning, oversee chess activities, and officiate competitions.

Al-Mudhahka underlined that the initiative aims to boost participation rates across various age groups, enlarge the pool of competitors in local tournaments, and increase the number of players registered with the International Chess Federation (FIDE). He also pointed to chess’s value as an educational tool, noting its contribution to enhancing students’ critical thinking, mathematical skills, and comprehension of arithmetic.

Expressing gratitude towards the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and all training participants, al-Mudhahka emphasized the federation’s commitment to nurturing talent through targeted programs. These efforts are designed to identify and develop skilled players who can represent Qatar in future competitions and contribute to the growth of chess nationally.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.