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GM Saleh SALEM

United Arab Emirates

Born on January 04, 1993, in Sharjah

Elo std: 2631
Rapid: 2637
Blitz: 2667

GMT: 2024 (Challengers, winner), 2022 (5th)
MTO: 2021 (winner), 2019 (8th), 2018 (5th), 2017 (5th), 2016 (5th), 2013 (9th), 2011, 2009
 
Biography
Salem Abdulrahman Mohamed Saleh, commonly known as Salem Saleh or A.R. Saleh Salem, was born on January 4, 1993, in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Growing up in a city with a burgeoning chess culture, Saleh discovered his passion for the game at a young age, reportedly learning the basics around 7 by watching his father and brothers play.
His family provided a supportive environment—his father was an amateur player with an estimated strength of around 1600 Elo, while two of his three brothers became national champions and represented the UAE internationally, reaching levels around 2300 Elo. This familial influence fueled Saleh’s early interest and rapid development in chess.
Saleh’s formal chess journey began through local clubs and youth tournaments, where his talent quickly stood out. By his teens, he was already a dominant force in regional competitions, blending enthusiasm with a clear sense of purpose. Beyond chess, Saleh has maintained a relatively private life but is known to have a professional career outside the board, working in quality control management for Dubai Police. A bilingual individual fluent in Arabic and English, he has also expressed an interest in football, having played at a competitive youth level until age 12 before fully committing to chess.
Chess Successes
Salem Saleh’s career is marked by a meteoric rise, exceptional achievements in youth and adult competitions, and a strong presence in faster time controls, establishing him as the UAE’s top player and one of Asia’s elite grandmasters:
  • Early Achievements: Saleh’s talent emerged in youth events. In 2002, at age 9, he won the NIDO Arab U10 Tournament in Abu Dhabi with 8/9. He followed this with a stellar run at the Asian Youth Chess Championships, securing three consecutive titles: U14 in 2007, U16 in 2008, and U18 in 2009, showcasing his dominance across age categories.
  • Grandmaster Title: Saleh earned the GM title in 2009 at age 16, a testament to his rapid progress. His norms were secured between April 2008 and the same of this same year. This achievement made him one of the youngest GMs from the Arab world at the time.
  • National and Regional Dominance:
    • Emirati Chess Championship: Saleh won the UAE national title in 2008, 2011, and 2012, establishing himself as a leading figure in his country’s chess scene.
    • Arab Chess Championship: He claimed the Arab Individual Championship in 2008 (at 15), 2014, and 2018, and excelled in blitz, winning the Arab Individual Blitz Championship in 2017 and 2018.
  • Asian Success: In August 2015, Saleh achieved a double triumph in Al Ain, UAE, winning both the Asian Continental Chess Championship and the Asian Blitz Championship. These victories elevated his regional standing and boosted his Elo significantly.
  • Chess Olympiads: Representing the UAE on the top board, Saleh competed in every Chess Olympiad from 2008 to 2016 (and later in 2022). His consistent performances helped raise the team’s profile, with notable results including a 2758 performance rating at the 2013 Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games, where he tied for second with GM Ding Liren (5/9).
  • Notable Tournaments:
    • 2017 Sharjah Masters: Tied for first with GMs Wang Hao, Adhiban Baskaran, Martyn Kravtsiv, Yuriy Kryvoruchko, and S.P. Sethuraman, finishing in the top group of this strong international event.
    • 2020 Biel MTO: Won the Masters Tournament Open in August 2021 (delayed due to the pandemic) with 7/9, achieving a 2790 performance rating.
    • 2022 Sharjah International Rapid: Secured first place with an impressive 8/9, reinforcing his prowess in rapid chess.
    • 2024 Biel GMT Challengers: Won the Triathlon Challengers event, earning a spot in the 2025 Masters section.
  • FIDE World Cup: Saleh has participated five times (2011, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2023). His best run came in 2021, reaching the third round after defeating Serbia’s GM Aleksandar Indjić (seeded 63rd), before losing to Croatia’s GM Ante Brkić.
Saleh’s playing style is aggressive and tactical, thriving in rapid and blitz formats where his quick decision-making shines. His collaboration with coach Ivan Sokolov since 2013 has refined his game, enabling him to compete with the world’s best. His frequent top finishes in both open tournaments – winner of the 2021 MTO – and closed events – clear winner of last year’s Biel Challengers – highlight his talent. He hopes to be able to make his opponents tremble in this Masters that he fully deserves.