Abu Dhabi, UAE, 02 June 2023: 42 Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital’s innovative and disruptive coding school that provides a unique peer-to-peer, gamified learning methodology, hosted the second edition of its most-awaited chess tournament in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind games. The tournament was held in 42 Abu Dhabi’s campus on the 1st of June 2023, in the presence of world-renowned chess champions.

The tournament served as an interactive learning opportunity for 42 Abu Dhabi students to witness first-hand some of the most advanced strategies used in professional chess. During the tournament, 42 Abu Dhabi students competed with internationally recognized champions, where they applied their critical thinking skills to create innovative strategies that took the game to even greater heights. 

The tournament attracted the UAE’s top chess players including Sultan Al Zaabi, a former Arab Chess Champion who has held the title of International Master and has won the UAE President's Cup; Latifah Al Darmaki, a medallist in the Arab Chess Olympiad and the UAE President Cup; and Sultan Al Darmaki, the former winner of the UAE President Cup in the Junior category and winner of multiple medals in the UAE National Chess Championships.

By taking part in this chess tournament, 42 Abu Dhabi students engaged with seasoned professionals in a non-classroom setting and learned from their experiences. The tournament paved the way for students to elevate their strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. These skills are a major part of the school’s learning model, which focuses on promoting students’ creativity and collaboration to prepare them to be key contributors in real-world projects.

Obada Outabachi won first place in the chess tournament, with Allan Thekkepeedika in 2nd place, German Chernysh in 3rd place, Abubaker Alseri in 4th place and Abdul Samad Pila Valappil in 5th place. The winning students were awarded with valuable prizes to encourage them to participate in such interactive events organized by the school.

Marcos Muller Habig, Acting CEO of 42 Abu Dhabi, said: “Hosting this tournament in its second edition highlights 42 Abu Dhabi’s disruptive approach to education, which goes beyond coding skills to prepare students for a well-rounded career. The event was a resounding success, where our students competed with globally recognized chess players and gained an understanding about the values that chess embodies, like strategic thinking and interpersonal skills. This tournament further reaffirms 42 Abu Dhabi’s role as a talent incubator that is providing a robust and comprehensive coding education, and equipping students with the essential skills and tools to propel their career journey.”

42 Abu Dhabi is an innovative and disruptive coding school, launched in 2020 as an initiative of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) and Abu Dhabi’s Ghadan 21 accelerator program, which aims to drive Abu Dhabi’s ongoing development through multi-faceted investments in business, innovation and people.