WI Tsar Samuel dies at 997 AD?

In 997 AD Byzantine General Niceforus Uranus faced the futureTsar of Bulgarians Samuel near Spercheios river in Greece...
Due to heavy rainfalls, the river had swollen and flooded a large area on both shores. The Bulgarians camped on the southern shore and the Byzantines on the northern, separated from each other by the river. The two armies remained thus encamped for several days. Samuil was confident that the Byzantines could not cross, and neglected taking measures to protect his camp. Ouranos however, sought and found a ford, leading his army across during the night, and attacking the Bulgarians at dawn. The Bulgarians, caught at unawares, were not able to put up an effective resistance, and the larger part of their army was routed. Samuil himself was wounded in the arm and his capture seemed inevitable, but his resourcefulness saved him: he and his son Gavril Radomir mingled with the dead and pretended to have been killed. After nightfall they set off to Bulgaria and in the Pindus mountains gathered the remains of their army...
WI Samuel and his heir were killed during the battle or-even worse-captured? How is that altering History? Any thoughts?
 
By that time Tsar Roman of the Bulgarians was in captivity by the Byzantines also... a potential death of Samuel could sunk Bulgaria into chaos and anarchy...
 
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