American teenager Brewington Hardaway, the first African-American chess grandmaster, conquered one of the world's most prestigious chess tournaments on UAE soil.

The 16-year-old dominated the Open category at the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival , winning nine games and drawing two across 11 rounds to claim the coveted title. His victory came against a field of over 700 players representing 52 countries in the blitz tournament alone.

Hardaway's triumph adds another milestone to his groundbreaking chess career. As the youngest African-American to achieve grandmaster status, his victory came against players from 52 countries competing in Abu Dhabi.

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Israeli International Master Benny Aizenberg delivered the tournament's most remarkable comeback story, jumping from 44th position to second place overall. His climb up the leaderboard included victories over established grandmasters from China and Armenia.

However, the competition included notable controversy. Iranian grandmaster Sina Mohaved, 14, forfeited his match against Israeli International Master Aizenberg-a recurring scene at international chess tournaments which is a widely used policy by iran in global sports and chess in specific.

The festival showcased emerging chess talent across multiple categories. In the ladies division, Filipino Women Grand Master Mae Frayna secured victory with an impressive undefeated run, drawing just twice in nine rounds to finish with 8 points.

The Under-16 category produced dramatic results as Iranian Fide Master Barad Yeganegi surged from eighth place to claim the title, gaining 103 rating points in the process. Yeganegi finished with 10 points, tying with compatriot Fide Master Radin Yadegar, who had lost only once throughout the tournament, to Yeganegi himself.

Romanian chess prodigy Edward Tudor secured third place in the Under-16 category, though not without setbacks after losing to lower-ranked Uzbek player Bezkod Jamvaev in an upset result.

The Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival drew a record-breaking 3,000 participants across 27 tournaments from 84 countries. The numbers exceed many established international chess competitions, according to organisers.

Chess officials noted the festival's ability to bring together players from diverse backgrounds, with competitors ranging from amateur enthusiasts to elite grandmasters competing across multiple age categories and skill levels.

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