Idman.biz
The first round matches of the "Baku Open 2026" International Chess Festival, jointly organized by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan, have started.
Idman.Biz reports that the first round was started by the chief arbiter of the competition, Faig Hasanov. The festival is organized in groups A, B, and C, and in all three groups, the games consist of nine rounds according to the Swiss system. At the same time, within the framework of the festival, the games of the Azerbaijan championship among veteran chess players are also held.
More than 900 chess players from ten countries participate in the tournament held at the Baku Crystal Hall. The total prize fund of the festival, the official opening ceremony of which will be held on April 30, is 50,000 US dollars (85,000 AZN).
Among the participants of the competition are former world champion, two-time winner of the World Chess Olympiad Ruslan Ponomaryov (Ukraine), world rapid champion Danil Dubov (FIDE), prize-winner of the individual European Championship Nijat Abasov, winner of the European Championship among 14-year-olds Khagan Ahmad, and other famous personalities.
