Nurgyul Salimova was introduced to chess at the age of four by her grandfather.Salimova has seamlessly blended her background into a prolific chess career which began with her capture of the European Youth Chess Championship title for girls under 8 in 2011.

Salimova carved her name into the Bulgarian chess arena by winning the Bulgarian Women’s Chess Championship in 2017. At a young age, she also won the European and World Youth chess championships, showcasing her prowess among her peers on multiple occasions.

Over the years, Salimova’s achievements have been nothing short of remarkable. She was awarded the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) by FIDE in 2019. She hit her peak FIDE rating of 2449 in July 2024.

Entering 2024, Salimova maintained strong form. She reached the final of the Women’s Chess World Cup 2023, earning a second Grandmaster norm by overcoming prestigious ranks and formidable opponents. Her performance at the Women’s Candidates Tournament in Toronto indicated her preparedness to join the elite echelons of global chess competitors.