Cihan University-Erbil Students Secure First Place in Female Category and Third Place in Male Category at Kurdistan Regional Inter-University Chess Championship

On Tuesday, November 10, 2026, the Kurdistan Regional Inter-University Chess Championship was held at Lebanese French University, featuring over 34 male and female players, including students and faculty members representing higher education institutions across the Kurdistan Region.

Under the supervision of the Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, the Cihan University-Erbil delegation actively participated in the championship, with both male and female student players securing top positions in the competition.

The championship matches were structured using the 7-round Swiss System, guaranteeing seven rounds of play for all participants. In the first round, initial match-ups were assigned by draw, whereas rounds two through seven were paired based on cumulative points, matching winning players against fellow winners. The tournament featured tactical competition, requiring players to continually adjust their strategies to maintain their scores.

After the final round, Cihan University-Erbil students achieved outstanding results in the championship. In the female division, Fatimah Farhad Mustafa, a third-stage student in the Department of Software Engineering and Informatics, secured first place overall, earning 4 points through 4 victories in 7 matches.

In the male division, Ali Surdash Hassan, also a third-stage student in the Department of Software Engineering and Informatics, secured third place, representing Cihan University-Erbil, with 5 points from 5 victories in 7 matches. He finished just 0.5 points behind the second-place competitor.

The championship concluded with an official awards ceremony, during which the winning players were recognized, and the participating students were commended for their outstanding performances.