FIDE President targets regional growth during Baku Open visit
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 wins Baku Open 2026
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