Ali was awarded Scottish girl player of the year at the beginning of the year with her main achievements for the award being British Under 12 Girls Champion, British Chess Association Under 12 Girls Rapidplay Champion, Scottish Girls Champion 2006 and 2007, and Scottish Under 15 Grading Champion.

Ali plays for Carrick Chess Club and was unbeaten in seven of her league games which proved an important factor in helping Carrick move up to Division One for the first time in thirty years.

Apart from playing chess, Ali has developed and applied her skills as a coach in her school and chess club. She has also helped run competitions at her local club.

In July this year the Scottish Championships were held in Glasgow where Ali defended her title for the third year and is Scottish Girls Champion 2008.

Ali is also the youngest player to have captained Scotland's Faber Cup team. Last month in Liverpool's John Moores University she was absolutely delighted when the team fought hard to win some very tough games. The girls ended as runners-up receiving silver medals.

Ali has just returned from the British Championships which was held in St George's Hall Liverpool where she had an excellent tournament.

She was the only Scottish player this year to bring back a title, winning the British Under 13 Girls title.

She was third overall, defeating Welsh Internationalist and board one Faber team player Megan Owens who has been selected to play for Wales at the 2008 Olympiad Women's Team which takes place in Dresden, Germany later this year,

Megan offered Ali a draw when it was down to a tricky end game but Ali was confident of winning as she had previously been shown a similar endgame by her coach International Master Stephen Mannion.

Some of Ali's games on the top boards were live on the internet, which enabled her Aunt Marie in Malasyia to follow her success.

Ali has also been selected to represent Scotland in the European Under 14 Girls Championships in Montenegro later this month but her parents have had to decline the invitation due to other commitments.

Ali is an active member of Carrick Chess Club along with her little brother Zak and dad Charlie and has moved up to board three this year in the chess league.

Board one and two are Dr. Kenny Brooksbank and Erick Mackinnon. They are a great inspiration and are always giving Ali friendly matches using different openings and tactics which is a great help to her when she is competing internationally.

Ali is willing to coach children between the age of five and 10-years-old who would like to learn how to play chess.

The junior section takes place on a Wednesday evening in Maybole Town Hall at 6.30pm.