In 2023, she won the silver medal in Bulgarian Chess Championship, and was the only woman to compete in the open section.

In May 2018, she won the Open International d'Échecs de la Côte Basque in Bayonne, France, with a performance of 2600+, enough for a GM norm.

In July 2018, Salimova scored her last WIM, first IM and first WGM norm in Pardubice, Czech Republic, with a performance of 2478.

Although she tied for second place with two others (both GMs), Salimova was awarded the silver medal because her tiebreak points were higher.

Ranked 29th in the event, she defeated Charlize van Zyl, Oliwia Kiołbasa, Mary Ann Gomes and Medina Warda Aulia, before upset wins over 12th-ranked Polina Shuvalova and 9th-ranked Anna Muzychuk took her to the final.