UAE’s rising chess sensation Rouda Al Serkal wrapped up her debut at the Norway Chess Open in style, clinching three consecutive victories to finish strong in the prestigious General Masters (GM) category in Stavanger.
The 15-year-old, who turns 16 next month, demonstrated resilience and maturity beyond her years as she battled through nine intense rounds, ultimately scoring 4 points in a field stacked with seasoned international players.
Despite a rocky start that included several early losses, Rouda’s final flourish, back-to-back wins over opponents from Norway, Italy, and France, underscored both her talent and fighting spirit.
“It was a learning experience more than anything else,” Rouda said. “I’m proud I stayed with it. Ending with three wins felt special. I feel like I’m leaving stronger than I arrived, even though I know I could have done much better.”
Tough Start, Strong Finish
Coming off a strong showing at the Asian Individual Women’s Championship in Al Ain and a productive training block, Rouda entered the tournament with high hopes. But her opening round on May 26 against Swedish Grandmaster Platon Galperin – one of the top seeds – ended in a tough 56-move loss.
“That first game hit me hard,” Rouda admitted. “It’s difficult to lose after such a long fight, especially in the very first round. I was disappointed, but I knew I had to regroup quickly.”
A draw with American player Luke Leon Robin Anatol followed, but another frustrating loss in round three to Spain’s Lucia Follana Albelda left the young Emirati visibly deflated. “That one stung. I had her in my grasp after opening with the Caro-Kann advanced variation, but let it slip away,” she said.
Two more challenging rounds followed – a draw against Mexico’s Jan Enrique Zepeda Berlanga and losses to Norwegian players Ask Amundsen and Astor Moe Maurstad – further testing her resolve.
Comeback Kid
But the turning point came in round seven, when Rouda picked up her first win of the tournament against Norway’s Sigur H. Myny while playing white.
“Eventually, I just found my footing,” she said. “I stopped overthinking, focused on the basics, and trusted my training.”
From there, she built momentum, defeating Italian Mauro Pivi on May 30 and France’s Franck Gouanelle in the final round on June 1, sealing her third straight win.
Rouda, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster and a former World Youth Champion, finished with three wins, two draws, and four losses. While she narrowly missed her target of gaining 100 rating points, she impressed observers with her adaptability and determination.
“Most of the games I lost, I was either winning or had a clear advantage. That’s what frustrated me the most,” she said.
A Milestone Moment for UAE Chess
As the first Emirati woman to compete in the GM category of the Norway Chess Open, Rouda’s participation was historic in itself. Her gritty comeback only added to the significance.
Tournament founder Kjell Madland praised her spirited performance. “It is exactly this kind of story that reinforces Norway Chess as a truly global platform,” he said. “To have young talents like Rouda travel from the UAE to compete at this level adds richness and reach to what we’re building here in Stavanger.”
Norway Chess Supertournament: Carlsen and Humpy in the Mix
Meanwhile, in the elite Norway Chess supertournament taking place at the SpareBank 1 SR-Bank venue, world number one Magnus Carlsen remains in close contention for the men’s title, while India’s two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion Koneru Humpy is among the frontrunners in the women’s event. Final rounds continue later this week.
Meanwhile, World Champion D. Gukesh from India beat World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen from Norway for the first time in classical chess with a stunning endgame turnaround to close in on the leaders, and have a genuine chance of winning the tournament with four rounds left to play.
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