Sina Movahed Wins Baku Open 2026 in Dominant Style
Iranian Grandmaster Sina Movahed delivered a brilliant performance to win the Baku Open 2026 with an impressive score of 8 points out of 9 rounds. The young star will turn 16 later this month, making this victory even more special.
The tournament was held at Baku Crystal Hall from April 28 to May 6 in Baku. The event featured a total prize fund of $50,000 and attracted nearly 900 players from 13 countries.
The festival included three different sections:
- Group A for players rated 2250 and above
- Group B for players rated 2249 and below
- Group C for players under 12 years old
The Open A section was highly competitive. After Round 6, five players were tied for first place. In Round 7, Sina Movahed defeated Khagan Ahmad while Chakraborty Mayank beat Anand Pranav to move into the lead.
Round 8 became the turning point of the tournament. Movahed defeated his co-leader in a crucial game and moved a full point ahead before the final round.
In the last round, Movahed faced Anand Pranav in an exciting and dramatic battle. He managed to win the game and officially secured the Baku Open 2026 title.
Several players finished with 6.5/9 points. Based on tiebreak scores, India’s Santhosh Parvathareddy Ajay claimed second place, while local International Master Khazar Babazada completed the podium.
The closing ceremony was attended by several important officials, including:
- Farid Gayibov
- Arkady Dvorkovich
- Zurab Azmaiparashvili
- Mahir Mamedov
- Fethi Apaydın
During the ceremony, organizers showed a special video featuring memorable moments from the last three editions of the tournament.
Farid Gayibov praised Azerbaijan’s strong chess culture and highlighted the efforts of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation in developing the sport. He also thanked President Ilham Aliyev for supporting international chess events in the country.
Fethi Apaydın spoke about the close relationship between Türkiye and Azerbaijan and said tournaments like the Baku Open strengthen friendship through sports.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said that Baku continues to grow as one of the important chess centers in the world. The event ended with winners and top players receiving medals, diplomas, and special gifts.
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
