Dubai’s rising chess star, Santiago Aurelio German, is making waves in the international chess scene at just 22 years old. From his early days as an unbeatable high school champion to his current pursuit of the coveted Grandmaster title, German’s journey has been one of relentless growth and success. Based in Dubai and a university student at the University of Warwick, he’s earned respect from grandmasters and continues to inspire the next generation of chess players.
German’s chess journey began at the age of 14, when the logical intricacies and mental challenges of the game captivated him. “I was drawn to chess’s deep complexity, its infinite possibilities,” he recalls. His skill rapidly grew, and by high school, he was almost unbeatable. “I never lost a single game in those hundreds of matches with classmates,” he shares with pride. This passion eventually led him to an important milestone—founding and captaining the first-ever Chess Club at the American International School of Jeddah in 2018.
German’s early experiences in chess weren’t always smooth. “My first-ever chess tournament, in the Philippines at age 15, was humbling—I lost six straight games,” he admits. But instead of being defeated by the setback, it became a turning point. “I managed to draw my last game, which felt like a huge win,” he recalls. This experience taught him resilience, and since then, his growth has been unstoppable. “I’ve never had a result that bad again,” he laughs.
Finally, in his pursuit to victory, German credits a lot of his success to his ability to adapt. “Chess is always changing. The way to stay relevant at top-level tournaments is always to innovate,” he elaborates. Now with his opponents researching each move that has been made, German knows the key is unpredictability. That way, no one can read me,” he says. This adaptability has been an important element in his career trajectory. When asked about his practice routine, German leaves no room for argument. He plays chess for a couple of hours a day against the computer and some of the strong online opponents.
Some of Germany’s recent wins include the 6th ZOR Chess Championship held in Dubai and winning the first prize at the Think & Plan June 2024 – Classical Standard tournament held in Sharjah. He is scheduled to face another tough competition at the 17th Poti International Chess Festival in Georgia and defend his title as Asian Amateur Champion in the Asian Amateur Championship to be held in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. He looks forward to further competition in major tournaments in the UAE and elsewhere in Europe and will continue climbing up the ranks of chess greats.
