Players
A.R. Saleh Salem
Photo: Biel International Chess Festival
GM

A.R. Saleh Salem

United Arab EmiratesBorn 1993 (age 33)FIDE ID 9301348

Playing now: Asian Nations Chess Cup 2026

Luft classical

25002600270028002023202420252026
Monthly Luft ratings, now 2619
FIDE

FIDE classical

20002200240026002800200420082012201620202024
Monthly FIDE ratings, now 2616
Luft

Trophy cabinet

A.R. Saleh Salem's classical titles

1 classical title, newest first

  • Asian Championship 20151st
  • Asian Championship 

Luft classical rating

Not ranked yet: the Luft classical rating needs at least 10 classical games in top events over the last year.

Openings

Their most-played, from 89 classical games in top events over the last 4 years

OpeningGamesScore
Nimzo-Indian Defense667%
Queen's Gambit Declined658%
Sicilian Defense475%
Ruy Lopez463%
Semi-Slav Defense450%

Nimzo-Indian Defense

With White: 6 games, won 3, drew 2, lost 1 · 67%

VariationGamesScore
Normal Variation560%
Sämisch Variation1100%

Queen's Gambit Declined

With White: 6 games, won 3, drew 1, lost 2 · 58%

VariationGamesScore
Main line367%
Austrian Defense1100%
Westphalian Variation150%
Exchange Variation10%

Sicilian Defense

With White: 4 games, won 2, drew 2, lost 0 · 75%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation275%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack1100%
Lasker-Pelikan Variation150%

Ruy Lopez

With White: 4 games, won 1, drew 3, lost 0 · 63%

VariationGamesScore
Closed275%
Berlin Defense250%

Semi-Slav Defense

With White: 4 games, won 1, drew 2, lost 1 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Main line225%
Anti-Moscow Gambit1100%
Normal Variation150%

Sicilian Defense

With Black: 11 games, won 3, drew 6, lost 2 · 55%

VariationGamesScore
Najdorf Variation463%
Moscow Variation438%
Alapin Variation275%
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack150%

English Opening

With Black: 5 games, won 2, drew 1, lost 2 · 50%

VariationGamesScore
Symmetrical Variation463%
Anglo-Indian Defense10%

Grünfeld Defense

With Black: 5 games, won 0, drew 2, lost 3 · 20%

VariationGamesScore
Exchange Variation333%
Stockholm Variation20%

King's Indian Defense

With Black: 5 games, won 0, drew 1, lost 4 · 10%

VariationGamesScore
Semi-Averbakh System150%
Fianchetto Variation10%
Orthodox Variation10%
Main line10%
Karpov System10%

Benoni Defense

With Black: 2 games, won 2, drew 0, lost 0 · 100%

VariationGamesScore
King's Pawn Line2100%

Recent events

See all
EventPlace+/−+/−
Asian Nations Chess Cup 202612 Nov 20261/20+1
FIDE World Cup 20258 Nov 20254/6+8+8
FIDE Grand Swiss 202515 Sep 2025=86th−10−17
Fujairah Global 202529 Aug 2025=32nd−9−12
58th International Chess Festival Biel24 Jul 20254th+13+11

Best wins

OpponentRating
GMV. Fedoseev18 Jul 2025 · 58th International Chess Festival Biel2739
GMC. Aravindh19 Jul 2025 · 58th International Chess Festival Biel2724
GMA. Esipenko11 Nov 2026 · Asian Nations Chess Cup 20262683
GMA. Korobov13 Jan 2024 · Tata Steel Challengers 20242663
GMF. Svane17 Jul 2025 · 58th International Chess Festival Biel2659

Most played

OpponentGamesWDL
GMB. DaneshvarLast 9 Dec 2024 · Qatar Masters 20243201
GMM. MadaminovLast 20 May 2025 · Sharjah Masters 20253300
GMV. FedoseevLast 24 Jul 2025 · 58th International Chess Festival Biel3201
GMC. AravindhLast 23 Jul 2025 · 58th International Chess Festival Biel3102
GMA. MishraLast 5 Nov 2025 · FIDE World Cup 20253120

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GMA.R. Saleh SalemUnited Arab Emirates

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How attributes are calculated

From their games in top events over the last 12 months, each judged against the opponent's rating

  • TacticsHow well they score in sharp games they chose to make sharp.
  • PositionalHow well they score in quiet, manoeuvring games they steered.
  • EndgameHow they do in endgames against what the position promised when it began: converting a winning one earns a little, saving a losing one earns a lot, and throwing a winning one costs a lot.
  • OpeningsThe engine's verdict on their position around moves 15 to 20, against what's normal for that colour, as the score it points to. Over the last 4 years, with older games counting less.
  • ComposureHow well they score under pressure: the game straight after a loss, and the last 3 games of an event while they can still win it. Over the last 4 years.
  • DefenceHow they do in games where they were 0.8 pawns or more worse after move 18, against what that position usually scores: holding the draw earns, turning it around earns more, and losing costs a little.
  • SpeedTheir Luft rapid and blitz ratings. With neither, an estimate a little below their classical level.
  • ConsistencyTheir Luft rating, less their off days: tournaments (5+ games each) over the last 4 years where they played 50+ below it. Anything better never counts against them.

  • "How well they score" is a performance rating: the opponent's rating, plus 400 for a win and minus 400 for a loss, averaged. So it's always judged against who they played.

    The score out of 100: 80 is a 2600 level, and each 13 rating points adds one, so 2860 and up is 100.

    Fair to everyone: with only a few games of a kind, the result leans towards their overall Luft rating. Strengths and weaknesses are measured against their overall level and compared with the top 100, so a specialist's best side stands out. A little recent form is added to all but Speed.