Eman Sawan, born on June 12, 2007, is a Palestinian chess prodigy who has made significant strides in the chess world from a young age. She holds the titles of Woman FIDE Master (WFM), achieved in 2024, and Woman Candidate Master (WCM), earned in 2022. Eman has clinched gold medals in the Arab Chess Championships in the under-14 and under-16 categories, winning all her matches in both events. In 2024, she secured the gold medal in the Arab Women’s Blitz Chess Championship held in Sharjah. During the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Eman delivered an outstanding performance, winning her first seven games and achieving a rating performance of 2628, gaining 70 Elo points in the process. As of January 2025, her FIDE classical rating stands at 1921. Despite facing challenges due to her stateless status and residing in Jordan, Eman continues to represent Palestine in international competitions, inspiring many with her dedication and achievements.
Documenting Hopes, Dreams, and Chess
Katie Dellamaggiore made her feature film directorial debut with Brooklyn Castle, an award-winning documentary about inner-city junior high school students achieving chess success despite financial obstacles. Now Dellamaggiore is working on a new film called Queen’s Castle, profiling young women worldwide who are achieving chess success. One of those young women is Palestine’s top female player, 17-year-old Woman FIDE Master Eman Sawan. More 🡢