#Azerbaijan – International Chess Federation

FIDE President targets regional growth during Baku Open visit

editor_d — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:22:56 +0000

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich attended the closing ceremony of the 2026 Baku Open. He met with regional officials and federation leaders to discuss the growth of the game in the South Caucasus

The Baku Open – which established itself as one of the premier chess events in the Caucuses region – attracted nearly 900 players from 13 federations. The top Grandmaster tournament was won by GM Movahed Sina from Iran.

FIDE President Dvorkovich held talks with presidents of chess federations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Spain, and Türkiye. He also met with European Chess Union President Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Secretary General of the FIDE Management Board, Łukasz Turlej. The meetings focused on upcoming international events and existing projects aimed at the promotion of chess in the region and globally.

The FIDE President also met with Azerbaijan’s Minister of Sport, Farid Gayibov, and the deputy minister of science and education to discuss the greater integration of chess into society and education.

In his remarks, Farid Gayibov emphasized Azerbaijan’s rich chess traditions and noted the contribution of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation to the development of the sport. The minister also stated that the support for sport provided by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev helps ensure that international competitions are held at a high level.

“Azerbaijan has long supported chess through state programs, hosting major events such as the 2016 Olympiad or World Cups. The country remains a vital hub for our sport,” Dvorkovich said.

“Their state support serves as a model for the region. We are working closely with them as well as with regional chess federations to ensure this momentum leads to new projects across the South Caucasus,” he added.

The 2026 edition of Baku Open, the event held since 2023, took place at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan, from April 28 to May 6 and boasted a $50,000 prize fund.

Sina Movahed triumphs at Baku Open 2026

editor_d — Thu, 07 May 2026 08:48:12 +0000

GM Sina Movahed of Iran, who turns 16 this month, emerged victorious at the Baku Open 2026, finishing with an impressive score of 8/9.

The 2026 edition of Baku Open, the event held since 2023, took place at the Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan from April 28 to May 6 and boasted a $50,000 prize fund. The festival featured three tournament sections (9-round Swiss): A (players rated 2250 and above), B (players rated 2249 and below), and C (players under 12) and brought together nearly 900 players from 13 countries.

The main event (Open A) was a fiercely contested tournament with as many as five players sharing the lead after Round 6. In the next round Chakraborty Mayank and Sina Movahed scored victories over Anand Pranav and Khagan Ahmad respectively and surged ahead. Round 8 saw the clash of co-leaders in which Movahed pulled off a crucial victory. Heading into the final round a full point ahead of five players on 6/8 (including the second seed Ruslan Ponomariov), Movahed prevailed over Pranav in a topsy-turvy battle and secured the title.

A large group finished on 6.5/9. Based on tiebreaks (average rating of opponents), the podium was completed by India’s Santhosh Parvathareddy Ajay and local IM Khazar Babazada.

Final standings (Groups A, B, and C)

The closing ceremony was attended by Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, Farid Gayibov; FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich; President of the European Chess Union, Zurab Azmaiparashvili; President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Mahir Mamedov; President of the Turkish Chess Federation, Fethi Apaydın and other officials. As part of the ceremony, a video showcasing the most memorable moments of the festival over the past three years was shown.

In his address, Farid Gayibov emphasized Azerbaijan’s rich chess traditions and acknowledged the contribution of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation to the development of the sport. He also noted that sustained support from President Ilham Aliyev enables Azerbaijan to host world-class international competitions.

Fethi Apaydın, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, underscored the strong cooperation between Turkish and Azerbaijani sports authorities, stating that events like the Baku Open deepen the brotherly ties between Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich stated that Baku would remain one of the key centers on the global chess map.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, winners and top-finishers of the tournaments were awarded medals, diplomas, and commemorative gifts.

Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation

Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva win Azerbaijani Championship 2026

editor_d — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:51:59 +0000

Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva are the newly crowned Azerbaijani chess champions. In the final matches, Muradli defeated Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to win the competition for the third time, while Fataliyeva prevailed over Ayan Allahverdiyeva to claim her maiden national title.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Championships took place in the country’s capital, Baku, from February 6-22. Both the open and women’s competitions were knockout tournaments (two-game matches with tiebreakers if needed) played under classical time controls. The total prize fund was 62,000 AZN (~$36,500 USD) for the open section and 30,000 AZN (~$17,500 USD) for the women’s event.

The open tournament, which attracted 30 participants, began with a preliminary round. The winners advanced to join the seeded players in the Round of 16. Muradli smoothly progressed to the quarterfinals, where he defeated Eltaj Safarli in the rapid tiebreaker. At this stage, the 2025 Azerbaijani champion Rauf Mamedov was eliminated, losing to IM Read Samadov. The rating favorite and last year’s finalist, Mamedyarov, needed no tiebreaks to reach the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Muradli convincingly outplayed Samadov in the second classical game after drawing the first, securing his place in the final. The other semifinal match was much tenser and saw Mamedyarov battle past the young Aydin Suleymanli, winning the third rapid game to advance.

The first game of the final between Mamedyarov and Muradli ended in a draw after a sharp tactical battle. In the second game, Muradli took full advantage of Mamedyarov’s mistake right out of the opening, winning the match and the title. In the match for third place, Suleymanli defeated Samadov twice to claim the bronze medal.

In the women’s event, top seed IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva confirmed her pre-tournament favorite status, cruising past her opponents and advancing to the final. Somewhat surprisingly, her opponent in the title match was the seventh seed, WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva, who eliminated defending champion Gunay Mammadzada in the quarterfinals and became the revelation of the tournament.

Despite a substantial rating difference, the final match was very close. After the opponents exchanged victories in the classical games, Fataliyeva took control in the tiebreak, capturing her first national title.

Gulnar Mammadova defeated Turkan Mammadyarova 1.5-0.5 in the match for third place to complete the podium.

Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation

Baku Open 2025 commences in the capital of Azerbaijan

editor_d — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 08:08:11 +0000

The Baku Open 2025 international festival, a prestigious event celebrating the game of chess and the rise of Azerbaijani talent, kicked off on April 28 at the Baku Crystal Hall.

The festival features three tournament sections (A, B, and C)—all 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control—and has brought together nearly 700 players representing 16 national federations. The total prize fund for the festival is $55,000, with $12,000 awarded to the winner of Tournament A.

The opening ceremony of the Baku Open 2025, jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, was attended by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, two-time Women’s World Champion and FIDE Treasurer Zhu Chen, President of the Turkish Chess Federation Fethi Apaydın, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation Mahir Mammadov, Minister of Youth and Sports Farid Gayibov, and other distinguished guests.

During the event, the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and the Turkish Chess Federation officially signed a cooperation agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by Azerbaijan Chess Federation President Mahir Mammadov, Turkish Chess Federation President Fethi Apaydın, and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Under the agreement, the two federations will collaborate on various initiatives to promote the development of chess. The partnership includes joint training camps for national teams, referee training programs, and the launch of several chess development projects.

The program of Baku Open 2025 includes several exciting side events, including the Battle of Champions competition and masterclasses by leading chess players.

In the Battle of Champions, Azerbaijani champion Rauf Mammadov faces former FIDE World Champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan), while Azerbaijani Women’s Champion Gunay Mammadzada competes against former World and European Champion Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria). The winners will be determined based on the combined results of rapid and blitz games.

The opening ceremony of the Battle of Champions was held at the National Carpet Museum on April 28.

In her speech, Museum Director Amina Malikova (pictured above) explained the choice of venue: “For the first time in our museum’s history, an international chess tournament is being held. We know that chess is always regarded as a symbol of high intelligence. I hope that the carpets you see here will have a positive impact on our chess players.”

Mahir Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, wished the players success and praised the regular organization of such tournaments as a highly positive development.

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who attended the ceremony, highlighted the unity of culture and sport: “We see the union of chess and culture in one place. Dear chess players, I am sure you will enjoy playing here and will also inspire the artists.”

Following the ceremony, Mammadov presented a souvenir to FIDE President. A drawing of colors then took place, and the competition began.

After three rapid games in both matches, the Azerbaijani players seized a 2–1 lead.

On April 27, former Women’s World and European Champion Antoaneta Stefanova conducted a masterclass for young Azerbaijani players.

The session, attended by 20 young chess enthusiasts, featured Stefanova sharing insights into her journey, career highlights, chess openings, strategic concepts, and an interactive Q&A session.

At the end of the masterclass, all participants received certificates and special gifts.

The Azerbaijan Chess Federation continues to organize diverse initiatives and events aimed at nurturing a love for chess among youth and promoting their healthy development.

Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation

Baku Open 2024 announced

KN — Mon, 13 May 2024 02:18:57 +0000

The Ministry of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation are pleased to announce the Baku Open – 2024 Chess Festival dedicated to the 100th anniversary of FIDE. The festival will be held from June 28 (arrival day) to July 07 (last round and closing ceremony) in Baku Sport Hall.

The program of the festival includes competitions in two sections (A and B), 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. Group A is open to players with FIDE Elo above 2100 (Women – above 1800), Group B is open for young players with FIDE Elo and born in 2012 and later.

Photo: Baku Sports Hall Facebook

The total prize fund of the tournament amounts to USD 50,000, with USD 12,000 reserved for the winner of Section A. The first ten registered players with FIDE Elo above 2650 (as of June 1, 2024) and women with FIDE Elo above 2450 (as of June 1, 2024) will be provided with a full board.

Schedule:

Date	Time		Event
Date	Group B	Group A	Event
29 June	14:30		Opening ceremony
29 June	10:00	15:00	1st round
30 June	10:00	15:00	2nd round
01 July	10:00	15:00	3rd round
02 July	10:00	15:00	4th round
03 July	10:00	15:00	5th round
04 July	10:00	15:00	6th round
05 July	10:00	15:00	7th round
06 July	10:00	15:00	8th round
07 July	10:00	15:00	9th round
07 July	20:00		Closing ceremony

Photo: thediaryofanomad.com/

The capital of Azerbaijan has a lot to offer besides chess. The guests of this open-minded and hospitable city are welcome to stroll along the Caspian promenade, visit the Old City and enjoy the unique blend of ancient and new.

Regulations for International Chess Festival Baku Open 2024 (PDF)

Contacts:
Azerbaijan Chess Federation
Е-mail: azerbaijanchess@yahoo.com
Website: http://asf.org.az

Azerbaijan Championship: Aydin Suleymanli wins maiden title

KN — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 23:21:52 +0000

Aydin Suleymanli (pictured above with his father) emerged as the winner of the Azerbaijan Championship 2024. The 19-year-old native of Baku prevailed over Mahammad Muradli in the final match to capture his maiden national title.

The Azerbaijan Championship 2024, with a total prize fund of USD 18,000, took place from April 11-26, 2024. The tournament featured eight grandmasters and five international masters, with some notable absences from top Azerbaijani players like Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Mamedov, and the defending champion Vasif Durarbayli.

Like a year before, the competition consisted of two stages. The first stage was a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control. The top four finishers – Mahammad Muradli (7/9), Aydin Suleymanli (6.5/9), Khazar Babazada (5.5/9) and Vugar Rasulov (5.5/9) advanced to the playoffs (two-game matches) to determine the champion.

The top seed Muradli and Suleymanli confirmed their statues as the tournament favorites and met in the final. The first game was drawn, whereas in the second one, Aydin Suleymanli scored the decisive victory with a spectacular queen sacrifice.

29. Qxg6! Nd7 (29…hxg6 30. Rh7+) 30. Qh6 Nxf6 31. Rxf6 Rxf6 32. Rxf6 d5 33. cxd5 exd5 and Aydin won on move 41, clinching the title.

In the match for bronze, Vugar Rasulov convincingly outplayed Khazar Babazada to complete the podium.

During a short closing ceremony, Mahir Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Vice President of FIDE, and Faig Hasanov, First Vice President of ASF, presented awards to the winners.

Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation Facebook

International Chess Festival Baku Open 2023 announced

KN — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:03:57 +0000

The Ministry of Youth & Sport of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation are pleased to announce the Baku Chess Open festival dedicated to the 100th anniversary of national leader Heydar Aliyev. The festival will be held from May 3 (arrival day) to May 12 (last round and closing ceremony) in Baku Crystal Hall, an indoor arena built to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

The program of the festival includes competitions in three sections (A, B and C), 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control. Group A is open to players with FIDE Elo above 2250 (Women – above 2100), Group B is for players with FIDE Elo below 2249 (Women – below 2099), Group C will bring together rated players and youngsters under 12 (born in 2011 and earlier).

Baku Crystal Hall Photo: Interfase (Wikipedia)

The total prize fund of the tournament amounts to USD 55,000, with USD 12,000 reserved for the winner of Section A. The first ten registered players with FIDE Elo above 2650 (as of May 1, 2023) and women with FIDE Elo above 2450 (as of May 1, 2023) will be provided with a full board.

Schedule:

Date	Time	Event
04 May	14.30	1st round
05 May	15.00	2nd round
06 May	15.00	3rd round
07 May	15.00	4th round
08 May	15.00	5th round
09 May	15.00	6th round
10 May	15.00	7th round
11 May	15.00	8th round
12 May	12.00	9th round
12 May	18.00	Closing ceremony

Photo: thediaryofanomad.com/

Regulations for the International Chess Festival Baku Open 2023 (PDF)

Contacts:
Azerbaijan Chess Federation
Whatsapp: +994 77 732 99 76
Е-mail: azerbaijanchess@yahoo.com
Website: http://asf.org.az

Azerbaijan Women’s Championship: Govhar Beydullayeva defends title

KN — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 14:24:31 +0000

WGM Govhar Beydullayeva (pictured above) emerged as the 2023 Azerbaijan Women’s Championship winner, successfully defending her title.

The Azerbaijan Women’s Championship took place in Baku from February 03-14, 2023, with 11 participants competing in a round-robin.

After a discouraging start – the defending champion fell to WGM Khanim Balajayeva (pictured below) in the first-round encounter – Govhar reeled off five straight wins and joined the leaders. In the end, it all came down to the final round, to which Beydullayeva and Balajayeva headed, sharing the top position.

Govhar scored a crucial victory over Turkan Mamedjarova and lifted the trophy as her main competitor managed only a draw against Narmin Abdinova and had to settle for silver. Khanim Balajayeva became the only player to defeat the champion and complete the tournament unbeaten.

Despite losing three games, Sabina Ibrahimova netted 6.5/10 and finished third.

Final standings:

1	WGM	Beydullayeva, Govhar	2387	7½
2	WGM	Balajayeva, Khanim	2379	7
3	WIM	Ibrahimova, Sabina	2174	6½
4		Abdinova, Narmin	1932	6
5	WGM	Abdulla, Khayala	2220	5½
6	IM	Mammadova, Gulnar	2376	5½
7	WFM	Allahverdiyeva, Ayan	2060	5
8	WGM	Mamedjarova, Turkan	2244	5
9	WFM	Hajiyeva, Laman	2135	3½
10	WGM	Mamedjarova, Zeinab	2249	2
11		Nuriyeva, Nurtan	1809	1½

Photo: Ceyhun Zeynalov

Official website: asf.org.az/

Azerbaijan Championship: Vasif Durarbayli clinches second title

KN — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 01:24:11 +0000

It became a tradition that the national championship is the year’s first competition in Azerbaijan. The two-stage event with a total prize fund of 25,000 AZN took place in Baku from January 13-28. Although the top Azerbaijani players Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Mamedov, and Guseinov did participate, the tournament brought together eight grandmasters and four international masters. With the top eight players having an average rating of 2568, the competition counts towards the FIDE Circuit.

Many young players took part in the competition, with 30-year-old Vasif Durarbayli being the oldest participant. On the other end of the spectrum was the 12-year-old runner-up of the European Youth Championship, Khagan Ahmad.

The first stage of the competition was a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control. The top four finishers – Vasif Durarbayli (7/9), Vugar Asadli (6.5/9), Mahammad Muradli (6.5/9) and Eltaj Safarli (6.5/9) – advanced to the playoffs to determine the champion.

In the two-game semifinals (with rapid and blitz if needed), the winner of the first stage, Durarbayli, beat Safarli 1.5-0.5, while Asadli whitewashed Muradli 2-0.

Both the final and the match for the bronze medal were very close battles. Asadli won the first game in the final and needed just a draw in the second one to secure the title, but Durarbayli stormed back and sent the match to the rapid games. Vasif Durarbayli dominated in the faster format, winning both encounters and clinching his second national title.

In the match for third place after three straight draws, Safarli delivered in the fourth encounter and took bronze.

Photo: Azerbaijan Chess Federation Facebook

Official website: asf.org.az/en

Mahammad Muradli wins Azerbaijan Championship

KN — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 19:41:10 +0000

Mahammad Muradli came as the winner of the Azerbaijani Championship 2022. Muradli duplicated his success of 2019 when he took his first national title.

The Azerbaijan Championship took place in Nakhchivan from 4 to 18 February 2022. Unlike the previous events, the 2022 championship was held in two stages. At the first stage, 28 participants competed in a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control. The top-4, namely Vasif Durarbayli (7/9), Musratdin Iskandarov (7/9), Aydin Suleymanli (6/9) and Mahammad Muradli (5½/9), advanced to the knockout stage. Interestingly, the future champion scraped in the second stage only by dint of better tiebreaks over three competitors.

Each match in the semifinals and the final consisted of two rapid games with two rapid games, two blitz games and Armageddon if needed in case of a tie.

In the semifinals, Muradli prevailed over the defending champion Durarbayli in tiebreak by winning the second rapid game (the opponents exchanged blows in classical games), while Iskandarov whitewashed Suleymanli.

In the final, Mahammad Muradli took the first game with white after Musratdin Iskandarov missed a good drawing chance in a time scramble. Facing a must-win situation, Musratdin reached an overwhelming position and came very close to levelling the score in the second game but let his advantage slip away with hasty 34th move and ended up losing.

In the match for bronze Vasif Durarbayli pummeled Aydin Suleymanli by a score of 2-0.

Photo: Official website

Official website: www.asf.org.az