In his ongoing efforts to promote chess growth across Africa, Grandmaster Nigel Short, FIDE Director for Chess Development, recently visited Mauritania. The primary purpose of the visit (from July 8-12) was to strengthen relations with the Mauritanian Chess Federation, the Ministry of Sport, and the National Olympic Committee, as well as to assess the state of chess development in the country.
The program included meetings with the Minister of Sport and the Mauritanian National Olympic Committee, where discussions focused on strategies for the future of chess in Mauritania and on reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Education regarding the introduction of chess in schools.
As part of his visit, Nigel Short also gave a simultaneous exhibition at the Hotel Nouakchott. The event was attended and formally opened by His Excellency Mr. Guy Harrison, the British Ambassador to Mauritania.
Nigel Short was later honored with a trophy by the president of the national federation. He also visited the headquarters of the Mauritanian Chess Federation, where he met with the executive board and top local players to share his chess expertise.
The Mauritanian Chess Federation expressed its deep appreciation for Nigel Short’s visit and voiced its hope to collaborate with FIDE on future joint programs.