Mahammad Muradli and Ulviyya Fataliyeva Crowned Azerbaijani Chess Champions 2026
The Azerbaijani Chess Championship 2026 ended with two strong champions. Mahammad Muradli won the Open title. Ulviyya Fataliyeva won the Women’s title. Both players showed excellent form throughout the tournament.
The championship was held in Baku from February 6 to 22, 2026. The event followed a knockout format. Each round had two classical games. If needed, players competed in rapid tiebreaks.
The total prize fund was impressive.
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Open section: 62,000 AZN (~$36,500 USD)
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Women’s section: 30,000 AZN (~$17,500 USD)
Muradli Wins Third National Title
The Open tournament had 30 players. It started with a preliminary round. Winners joined seeded players in the Round of 16. Muradli played confidently from the beginning. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Eltaj Safarli in a rapid tiebreak.
One big surprise came when defending champion Rauf Mamedov was eliminated by IM Read Samadov. Meanwhile, tournament favorite Shakhriyar Mamedyarov reached the semifinals without needing any tiebreaks.
Semifinal Drama
Muradli faced Samadov in the semifinals. After drawing the first classical game, Muradli won the second convincingly. He secured his place in the final.
In the other semifinal, Mamedyarov battled young talent Aydin Suleymanli. The match went to rapid tiebreaks. Mamedyarov won the third rapid game to reach the final.
Final Showdown
The final between Muradli and Mamedyarov was intense. The first game ended in a sharp draw. In the second game, Mamedyarov made a mistake in the opening. Muradli punished it immediately.
With that win, Muradli claimed his third Azerbaijani national title. In the battle for bronze, Suleymanli defeated Samadov twice to finish third.
Fataliyeva Claims Her First Women’s Title
In the Women’s Championship, top seed Fataliyeva proved her strength. She advanced smoothly to the final.
Her opponent was seventh seed Ayan Allahverdiyeva. Allahverdiyeva surprised everyone by eliminating defending champion Gunay Mammadzada in the quarterfinals. She became the biggest revelation of the event.
A Close Final
Despite a large rating gap, the final was very close. Each player won one classical game. The match went to tiebreaks. In the rapid games, Fataliyeva showed better control and composure. She won the match and secured her first Azerbaijani national championship title.
In the third-place match, Gulnar Mammadova defeated Turkan Mammadyarova 1.5–0.5 to take the bronze medal.
A Memorable Azerbaijani Chess Championship 2026
The 2026 Azerbaijani Chess Championship delivered excitement, surprises, and high-level games. Muradli confirmed his dominance in Azerbaijani chess. Fataliyeva proved she is ready to lead the next generation of women’s chess in the country.
This tournament once again showed why Azerbaijan remains one of the strongest chess nations in the world.
Photos: Azerbaijan Chess Federation
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
