International Master Taleb Moussa of Dubai became the National Chess Champion 2003 with 7.5 points at the end of the ninth and final round of the UAE Senior Chess Championship at Dubai Men's College of Higher Technology.

FIDE Master Abdul Majeed of Sharjah was runner-up with seven points, while Khalil Ibrahim (Sharjah) clinched the third spot with 6.5 points.

Nagueb Saleh (Dubai) scored six points and came fourth and two players Jasim A.R. Saleh (Sharjah) and Naji Mohammed (Dubai) was in the fifth place.

Taleb Moussa was delighted with his success and said "the pre-tournament preparation and recovery after the early loss were the vital aspects" behind his success.

Abdul Majeed, who kept the lead till the final two rounds, has been a regular performer finishing at the top. "The individual encounters among the top players were critical and the final outcome is a close finish," he remarked.

In the U-20 section, Mohammed Hussain (Sharjah) and Ibrahim Ismail (Abu Dhabi) tied for the top placing and the youth champion title with eight points. After the tie-break, Hussain was awarded the title on better technical counts.

Results (final round):
Under-20: Saeed Ahmed (5.5)-Mohammed Hussain (7) 0-1; Ibrahim Ismail (7)-Fasial Abdullah (5) 1-0; Mohammed Abdulraheem (4.5)-Majed Saeed (5.5); Arif Al Khaja (5)-Abdulrahman Obaid (4.5); Hamd Saleh (4)-Mohammed Ahmed Al Rais(4.5) 0-1; Majed Ahmed Obaid (4)-Jasim Mohammed Ali (4) 1-0; Mahmood Ibrahim (3.5)-Khalid Khamis (4) 0-1; Mohammed Essa (3)-Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed (3.5) 0-1.

Men: Saleh Nabil (4.5)-Taleb A. Moussa (6.5) 0-1; Khalil Ibrahim (5.5)-Saleh Naguib (6) 1-0; Abdul Majeed (6)-Saud Mohammed (4.5) 1-0; Jasim A.R. Saleh (4.5)-Humaid A.H. (4) 1-0; Askar M.A. (4)-A.L. Razi Naji Mohammed (4.5) 0-1; Issa Mohammed (2.5)-Saeed Haithem (2.5) 1-0.