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Noam Sasson, an 11-and-a-half-year-old chess prodigy from Ganei Tikva, returned home Friday with two impressive medals from the World Youth Chess Championship in Rhodes. Competing in the 10-12 age category, Sasson earned world runner-up titles in both rapid and blitz chess.
Just a week earlier, the sixth-grade student was crowned Israel's national champion for players under 12, adding to his growing list of achievements.
“It was emotional to stand on the podium twice at the world championship with the Israeli flag,” Sasson said, visibly excited about his dramatic success.
His father, Gil Sasson, shared that Noam’s chess journey began at the age of four, when he joined an after-school club. “It quickly became clear that he was very talented, and by age 7 or 8 he was already competing in tournaments in Israel and abroad,” Gil said.
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According to Lior Aisenberg, director of the “Chess4All” club in Savyon, where Noam trains, no Israeli has ever achieved what Sasson did — securing world runner-up spots in both rapid and blitz chess competitions.
Recognizing Noam’s extraordinary talent, his parents sought the guidance of Grandmaster Arthur Kogan, an Israeli chess coach based in Spain. Noam trains regularly via Zoom and travels to Spain twice a year for in-person sessions.
"This is a significant financial investment from our own pocket, with support from the ‘Chess for All’ club and the Israel Chess Federation," Gil explained. "To reach the top levels of adult world chess, which is Noam’s goal, we need a sponsor’s backing."
Reflecting on his success, Noam said, “I went up to receive my medals with the Israeli flag. I felt like I was representing the country, and it was important to me that people saw our flag and knew that Israel is on the map in chess.”