I live in Africa, and my experience of chess is very different from players who enjoy quiet rooms, air conditioning, and stable internet. My home is full of life: a wife who might need my attention, a child who cries, and neighbors who make noise. Playing speed chess online is a battle not just against the clock or the opponent—it’s against everything around you. Weak data connections, interruptions, and even safety concerns make ratings and online results misleading. They don’t reflect the real struggle of playing under difficult conditions.
In 2019, I was playing in Somalia during a volatile period. An explosion shook the area while my opponent and I were deeply focused on our game. For a few moments, the world outside disappeared. We came back to the board, trying to continue, only to discover his black queen had gone missing—he had accidentally swallowed it in the chaos. Despite the surrounding danger, chess demanded our focus. That day reminded me how much chess can protect your mind, even in the worst circumstances.
Many people think chess is just about talent or study, but it is also about environment and access. Two players with the same skill can have completely different outcomes depending on their circumstances. Children and young people in poor or unstable areas rarely have access to proper boards, internet, or tournaments. They cannot train under calm conditions or participate in official competitions. Chess could help them stay focused, develop their minds, and avoid harmful distractions—but only if the community and organizations support them.

When Fair Play Breaks Down

I am also part of a large online chess group called Lions, with more than 2,000 members. Every individual result matters. My wins are added to the team’s total, and together we compete at a high level. This structure builds responsibility—not just to yourself, but to your community.
That is why it hurts deeply when fair play is violated.
There have been moments when I was clearly winning a game, only for my connection to suddenly fail. My device would still show that I was online, but the board would not allow me to move. My clock kept running. I recorded these incidents because they made no sense. The opponent was losing, yet I was the one being punished by time.
I don’t know if this was hacking, deliberate abuse, or technical exploitation—but the effect is the same. A player already struggling with weak internet, noise, mosquitoes, and life pressure is pushed out of the game unfairly. Even worse, these situations sometimes lead to warnings from the platform, creating suspicion around the wrong person.
Fair play online must take context into account. Not everyone plays with perfect infrastructure. Not everyone can afford high-speed internet or uninterrupted time. When systems fail to recognize this, they unintentionally punish the most vulnerable players—the very people who love the game the most.

Chess as Prevention and Community

Chess is more than a game—it is a tool for resilience, focus, and growth. It keeps children and young people away from harmful distractions, builds patience and critical thinking, and creates social spaces for collaboration and challenge. Sports, like basketball, can coexist with chess, giving young people balance and mentorship.
I believe chess organizations, FIDE, and communities like Lichess can do more:

• Provide boards and safe spaces in refugee camps and underserved areas
• Offer internet access for online play
• Organize local tournaments to bring communities together
• Help children and young players connect with the global chess world

In Garissa, Kenya, there is a massive refugee camp not far from my home. I want to create FIDE-standard tournaments there, provide chessboards, and give players access to online games without the cost of Wi-Fi. This could allow young players in difficult conditions to compete with others around the world, develop their skills, and experience the same joy and challenge of chess that many take for granted.
Chess teaches fairness on the board—but the world must learn fairness for the players.