Rouda Alserkal always knew that pursuing her dream of becoming a leading chess player wouldn’t be easy. Yet, she was determined to overcome every hurdle. From rigorous training to balancing chess with academics and sacrificing her childhood, Rouda went above and beyond to become an essential part of Emirati folklore.
This 16-year-old from Abu Dhabi shattered barriers by becoming the UAE and Gulf region’s first Woman Grandmaster.
Having reached this significant milestone early in her career, Rouda debuted in prestigious events in Norway and Romania.
However, this rising star remains grounded.
“With the title comes great responsibility. It means I need to train ten times harder and continue pushing myself. I have more goals, tournaments, and ratings to achieve,” Rouda told Reuters.
“It’s definitely stressful, especially in major tournaments like the World Championship. Recently, I played in the World Cup as the only Emirati participant.”
Rouda, proud to be a pioneer in a male-dominated sport, particularly in the Gulf, understands the weight of her responsibility.
“People will always have something to say. I recall a social media post congratulating me as the UAE’s first woman grandmaster. Yet, the comments focused on everything but my chess achievements,” she said.
“I’m giving my all to this game, but people overlook it and focus on irrelevant aspects like my appearance or the fact that I don’t wear a hijab.
This is not the narrative I wish to present to the media. I want to show I’m an Emirati woman, 16 years old, with significant achievements. I’ve carved a niche for myself. However, people dwell on the wrong things. I must ignore this and focus on what’s crucial—playing chess.”
Rouda, who began playing at four with her family, feels immense pride seeing the growing number of young chess enthusiasts in the UAE.
“When I joined the chess club, participants were few. But after I started winning, many kids enrolled,” she said.
“I remember people recognizing me, saying, ‘Oh, you’re Rouda. We’ve heard a lot about you. We joined the chess club to see you.’”
“This means a lot; it fills me with pride. I hope to see more UAE players, especially women, showcasing their talents in more tournaments. It’s an honor, and I’m thrilled that many children and girls look up to me. But as I mentioned, the pressure to maintain a perfect image can be overwhelming because no one is flawless.”
Despite imperfections, Rouda, an Asian Championship bronze medallist and Asian Schools Championship gold medallist, aims to enhance her skills and make further history.
“I want to keep improving and eventually earn my Grandmaster title,” she told Khaleej Times earlier this year.
“Competing in top tournaments against elite players is a challenge I eagerly anticipate. While winning more championships is on my agenda, my current focus is on personal growth as a player and exploring the heights of my chess career.”
