Sky is the limit!
If you are looking for chess stories, then Olympiad is the place to find them. You will find so many players with inspiring stories, because this event brings players from across the world under one roof. Many of these countries do not have a strong chess culture. For them, simply reaching the Olympiad and competing against opponents of different levels is already an achievement.
Skye Attieh's is one of those stories...
11-year-old Skye has played board one for Lebanon's women's team at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. She scored 7/10 and earned her WFM title.
Her sister Kate, 13, played on board four, scored 5/9, and earned the WCM title.
Their father, Wael, was the team captain. This Olympiad was really a shared adventure for this family.
My experience at the Olympiad was incredible. What I will remember the most is the happiness I felt after I drew a WGM, and definitely when I became a WFM. I’m very proud of my final result of 7/10 on board 1!
- Skye Attieh
"I loved several games. The game where I drew a WGM, Tatiana Dornbusch, because it was my first time, and the game itself was interesting, especially the endgame, where there was an imbalance and precise calculation was needed, because every mistake loses the game! I enjoyed my games from round 8 against Nahiara Fabra and round 10 against Roula Mahmoud, because both involved endgames, and I felt I had improved at endgames a bit," Skye shared.
Skye's toughest moment came at the very start. In round 1, against WIM Sila Caglar, the game was a dead draw for a long time. "The game was a dead draw after several hours and about 70 moves and I had a huge time advantage. She played more actively in an equal endgame and I lost," she said.
Skye learned chess from her father. She was 4 years old when she saw her father and her sister playing chess. Skye would watch them play and wait for her turn. Later on, the idea of competing in a big tournament got her interested.
For years, Wael was her only coach. In 2023, when Skye was eight, they reached out to GM Homayoon Tofighi to prepare for her first World Cadet Championship. She played in the U-8 section, where she finished 12th. Tofighi played a huge role in building the foundation for Skye's chess career. They worked together for a little more than two years.
Chess opportunities in Lebanon are limited. There are some rapid tournaments, but classical events, the kind that build real experience, are few. To improve significantly, a player needs regular exposure to strong competition, and that is exactly what Lebanon does not offer. So events like the World Cadet Championship and the Asian Championship become very important for these players, as they get a chance to play against strong players. Also, participating in such tournaments without preparation becomes a tough challenge.
At present, Skye trains under GM Emin Ohanyan and, according to Wael, is progressing rapidly. Her father still spends time every day hand-picking some exercises for her. Skye trains three to five hours on school days and five to seven on days off. In the summer break before the Olympiad, Skye's day began around 9 am. From there, she moved between blocks: three hours of online blitz, an hour of deep calculation from books of Jacob Aagaard and R. B. Ramesh's Improve Your Chess Calculation, an hour of quick tactics, an hour of opening revision, and a final hour split between endgames, strategy and the games of grandmasters. Seven hours, and then she did it all again the next day!
When asked about her favourite players, Skye names two very different heroes. The first is Mikhail Tal, for his "magnificent sacrifices." The second is Faustino Oro, who became a grandmaster at just 12.
What does she love most about chess? "Competing against very strong players and experiencing intense moments." It is the answer of a Tal admirer. Her biggest goal in chess is to become a Grandmaster. Away from the board, she dreams of becoming a pediatric surgeon.
Skye's mother is a fine artist; her father is a chess coach. Both daughters earned titles at the same Olympiad. Wael speaks about Skye's journey: "I am trying my utmost to keep her dream alive, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so with the high cost of paying for coaches and covering travel expenses. We’re relentlessly looking for sponsors, as this would be the only practical way to propel Skye towards her goals."
They say the sky is the limit. For Skye, the only limit so far has been opportunity, and that is something others can change. If you or your organisation would like to help turn her dream into a title, you can reach out to Skye's father at wael.attieh81@gmail.com or on Twitter @AttiehWael.
