Samuel Stephen Noble S superb at 31st Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Open B 2025
Samuel Stephen Noble S scored an unbeaten 8/9 to win 31st Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Rating Open B (≤1999) 2025. He finished a half point ahead of the rest. Seven players scored 7.5/9 each. Out of them, Tigran Agh. Petrosyan (ARM) and Agshin Alizada (AZE) secured second and third place respectively according to tie-breaks. Samuel drew against the eventual second runner-up, Agshin in the seventh round. Total combined prize fund for Open A and B was US$ 20300. The top three prizes were $2000, $1500 and $1000 along with a trophy each. This is Samuel's fourth overall, second rating tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Aditya Sur Roy
Samuel's fourth tournament triumph of the year
11-year-old Samuel Stephen Noble S was the sole leader 7.5/8, heading into the last round. Emil Mehraliyev (AZE) and John Vincent Cayaba (PHI) were the two pursuers at 7/8 each. The reigning National School Under-13 Open and Andhra Pradesh State Under-13 Open champion, Samuel drew against John to become a clear champion. Alkey Amangeldinov (KAZ) lost to Tigran Agh. Petrosyan (ARM) and the latter secured second place. Agshin Alizada (AZE) won against Maximiliano Aragon Fragoso (MEX) to finish third.
For more prize distribution ceremony photos, please click here.
Final standings
| Rk. | SNo | Name | sex | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | K | rtg+/- | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Samuel, Stephen Noble S | IND | 1928 | 8 | 0 | 53,5 | 48,5 | 40 | 87,2 | |||
| 2 | 10 | Petrosyan, Tigran Agh. | ARM | 1944 | 7,5 | 0 | 52 | 47 | 40 | 52,4 | |||
| 3 | 1 | AFM | Alizada, Agshin | AZE | 1999 | 7,5 | 0 | 51 | 46,5 | 40 | 31,6 | ||
| 4 | 7 | Mehraliyev, Emil | AZE | 1960 | 7,5 | 0 | 50,5 | 46 | 20 | 19,6 | |||
| 5 | 11 | Mulhem, Laith. | SYR | 1929 | 7,5 | 0 | 50 | 45 | 40 | 19,6 | |||
| 6 | 6 | AGM | Cayaba, John Vincent | PHI | 1972 | 7,5 | 0 | 49,5 | 44 | 20 | 6 | ||
| 7 | 5 | Gharagyozyan, Artur | ARM | 1977 | 7,5 | 0 | 47,5 | 43 | 20 | 3,2 | |||
| 8 | 9 | Khachikyan, Haik | ARM | 1953 | 7,5 | 0 | 46 | 41,5 | 20 | -1,2 | |||
| 9 | 13 | CM | Elobeid, Asim Ali | SUD | 1916 | 7 | 0 | 49,5 | 44,5 | 20 | 12,8 | ||
| 10 | 2 | Ali, Alqaisi | JOR | 1998 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 45 | 20 | -4,6 |
