The hero Imad Haqqi: I was exposed to difficult circumstances, but they did not affect my breathing in life, which is chess

Damascus-SANA

He ended up in a home for the elderly in Damascus as a result of the difficult social conditions experienced by the world chess champion Imad Haqqi, but these conditions did not affect his favorite sport and remained with him, breathing it like air.

It is no secret to athletes in general and to chess athletes in Syria, especially what this man in his seventies achieved during his sporting career, which began from his early childhood and extended for decades, perhaps the most prominent of which is that he is the first Syrian player to be awarded the title of an international chess master.

SANA’s sports representative met the chess icon, as his friends like to call him, during his participation in the age groups training at Dummar Sports Club. He said, “I started my career in my favorite sport, chess, since I was seven years old, and achieved the title of the Republic Championship about 11 times. On the Arab level, I won the title of Arab Championship 8 times and the Masters title for several times and I participated in many international tournaments, and I may not be able to remember to count them.” He added that he was the most heroic in the world, including the world champion Anand in 1986. I was also ranked among the top ten in the world, especially in the Blitz, where I topped the list of its players at the time.

Haqi added, “I was exposed to difficult social conditions after I became lonely for several years after losing my family, which kept me away from my normal life and I am on my way to overcome these circumstances and start again, but chess in my life is a different matter far from the problems and remains the only outlet.”

His chess companion and student, Muhammad Nabil al-Shaar, explained that his coach, despite his difficult circumstances and what happened to him, the competition is always present with him and he is up to the challenge in chess matches and no one can beat him and he is able to return to the game in tournaments and compete with its champions and win the title with all ease.

Al-Shaar pointed out that his coach's long career and the many championships in which he represented Syria well make us call him a chess icon, especially that Haqi is one of the three most important chess players in the world in terms of strategy and skill, pointing at the same time to the need to provide all the requirements that Haqqi needs to return to its former glory. .

A number of chess players of different age groups and their families expressed their happiness to be with the hero Imad Haqqi, as he is one of the important sports figures who provided a lot to the Syrian sports treasuries, and he also represents a legend in the challenge, pointing out the importance of moving forward in the game to reap achievements.