Gabriela Harutyunyan clinches Rapid Chess Title at Abu Dhabi Festival
13-year-old Gabriela Harutyunyan has claimed the U-13 Girls’ Rapid Chess Championship title at the 31st Abu Dhabi Chess Festival.
On August 15-24, Gabriela August 15 to 24, Gabriela Harutyunyan took part in the tournament with sponsorship from Byblos Bank Armenia. She is set to compete again—with the Bank’s continued support—at the 2025 European Youth Chess Championships in Montenegro, taking place from October 28 to November 8.
The 2025 Armenian U-14 Girls Champion also competed in the Ladies Blitz Tournament in Abu Dhabi, where she broke into the top ten among women and significantly boosted her overall ranking.
Gabriela has been playing chess since the age of 5. She has achieved impressive victories in numerous tournaments, including winning the championship titles in the Yerevan U10 Girls’ Championship, the Armenian U10, U12, and U14 Girls’ Championships, as well as securing fourth place in the European U10 Girls’ Championship.
The young chess player has earned a spot in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship as well after becoming the absolute champion of Armenia among girls under 14 in 2025.
Gabriela’s participation in prestigious tournaments is a significant milestone in her chess career and a key component of the Bank’s educational corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
