The year 2025 marked a significant leap forward for chess in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, thanks to the continued efforts of the Saudi Chess Federation under the leadership of Mohammed bin Mutlaq Al-Masoudi. The federation achieved tangible progress on all fronts, whether by expanding the participation base to include various segments of society or through a strong and influential presence on the regional and global chess scene.
Throughout 2025, chess enjoyed widespread prominence across many regions of the Kingdom. Twelve cities hosted dozens of official tournaments organized by the Saudi Chess Federation, including internationally rated events. This contributed to a record increase in the number of registered players during the year, surpassing 5,000 male and female players.
During 2025, the Saudi Chess Federation succeeded in increasing the number of athletes registered in its official database by launching recruitment programs and activating the international rating system. These initiatives strengthened the player base and led to greater participation among younger age groups and women.
The total number of registered players in 2025 reached 4,276 male players and 722 female players, in addition to 616 male and female players in youth categories.
As part of its strategy to expand participation across all regions of the Kingdom, the Saudi Chess Federation organized 43 official national tournaments. These included the Saudi Championship for youth categories, women, and men, as well as the Saudi Universities Championship and other events that contributed to raising competitive standards and discovering new talents.
The successes of “Saudi Chess” continued throughout 2025, with Saudi players participating in major Arab and international tournaments. أبرز these were the Abu Dhabi International Chess Championship for seniors and youth categories, and the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships in Qatar. These participations resulted in advanced placements and notable achievements in the FIDE international ratings, strengthening the Kingdom’s presence on the international stage and improving the global rankings of its players.
