Doha: The third edition of the final championship of the school chess project "Naqla" for the 2025-2026 academic year concluded, as part of a partnership between the Ministry of Sports and Youth, represented by Qatar Chess Association (QCA), and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The championship, dedicated to primary school students, featured separate competitions for boys and girls over six rounds each, with the participation of 102 students representing 16 schools, in the presence of officials from both ministries and the association.

According to Qatar News Agency, in the boys' individual category, Hittin Model School for Boys dominated the top three positions, with Khalid Al Ziyara securing first place, followed by Hamad Al Ziyara in second, and Aser Hijab in third. In the girls' individual category, Masa Ramadan from Al Markhiya Primary School for Girls claimed first place, followed by Amira Al Momani in second, and Aisha Al Fakhro from Al Bayan Primary School for Girls in third.

In the team competitions, Hittin Model School for Boys took first place in the boys' category, followed by Malik bin Anas Model School in second, and Khalifa Model School in third. In the girls' team competition, Al Markhiya Primary School for Girls secured first place, followed by Maymouna Primary School for Girls in second, and Al Bayan Primary School for Girls in third.

President of QCA, Mohamed Al Mudahka, expressed his satisfaction with the closing atmosphere of the championship, noting that the project continues for the third consecutive year as an extension of the "Chess in Schools" initiative aimed at developing the game, expanding its practice among students, and increasing the number of registered and internationally rated players. He highlighted the high technical standards of the competition, which contributed to the discovery of promising talents that could support the future of chess in Qatar, while praising the support of both ministries.

QCA continues its efforts to expand the game's reach through training and educational programmes focused on the pedagogical benefits of chess, alongside training teachers to lead school teams and organize inter-school tournaments.