Tournament director Kjell Madland hails Emirati prodigy as a symbol of progress for Emirati  women in global sport and one who’s breaking barriers “we didn’t even know existed”

Stavanger, Norway, May 27 – In a landmark moment for UAE sport and the Arab world, 15-year-old Rouda Al Serkal, the country’s first Woman Grandmaster (WGM), made her debut at the prestigious Norway Chess Open tournament, competing here for the first time. Her participation marks a new era for Emirati women in international chess, putting the UAE firmly on the map in a sport long dominated by European and Asian powerhouses.