Mr. Saleh, 30, ranked 59th in the world and a grandmaster, won 300,000 Saudi riyals ($80,000), after winning in nine rounds.
The Arab chess prodigy started winning professional championships at the age of 10 and was named a grandmaster by the International Chess Federation at the age of 16.
Mr. Saleh’s areas of expertise include classical chess, fast chess and blitz, all of which have different rules and require different skills.
Bassem Amin and Fawzi Adham from Egypt, also grandmasters, finished second and third respectively in the competition – with a prize money of 200,000 Arab Riyals for second place and 100,000 Arab Riyals for third place. .
Cash prizes were awarded to 10th place, totaling 800,000 Saudi Riyals. Ahmed Al Mehmadi, Vice President of Marketing and Communications of the Saudi Entertainment Authority, and Abdullah Al Wahshi, President of the Saudi Chess Federation, presented the award.
The competition attracted more than 100 players from Saudi Arabia and abroad.