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UAE’s Rouda AlSerkal scores a hat trick at Norway Chess Open
After early setbacks, 15-year-old Rouda AlSerkal, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster, ends her maiden campaign at Norway Chess Open in Stavanger with three wins
- PUBLISHED: Mon 2 Jun 2025, 10:43 AM
Rouda AlSerkal may have suffered a few heartbreaking defeats, but the 15-year-old UAE chess prodigy bounced back with exhilarating performances to finish her maiden Norway Chess Open campaign in style at Stavanger.
The first Woman Grandmaster from the UAE, Rouda showed maturity that belied her young age, ending the tournament with a hat trick of wins after losing her first game to Swedish Grandmaster Platon Galperin.
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In one of the most challenging events, the teenager suffered three more losses and managed two draws in the next rounds before finding her feet as she finished the event with a flourish.
A former world youth champion, Rouda registered her first win of the tournament against Sigur H. Myny of Norway before winning back-to-back games against Mauro Pivi of Italy and France’s Franck Gouanelle.
Three wins, two draws and four losses may not sound like a great tournament for an experienced campaigner. But for Rouda, an emerging talent, this was an experience that would help her add more weapons to her game.
“It was a learning experience more than anything else,” Rouda said. “And I’m proud I stayed with it. Ending with three wins felt really special – I feel like I’m still leaving stronger than I arrived although I could have done much better.”
Kjell Madland, Tournament founder, showered Rouda with high praise for her courageous performance.
“It is exactly the kind of story that reinforces Norway Chess as a truly global platform,” Madland said. “To have young talents like Rouda travel all the way from the UAE to compete at this level adds richness and reach to what we’re building here in Stavanger.”
Rituraj Borkakoty is Sports Editor and has spent more than two decades writing on his sporting heroes. He also loves an underdog story, so if you have one, share it with him. He would love to bring it to life.