Chess is one of the most popular sports in Azerbaijan, where it is governed by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF). On May 5, 2009 Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee, signed an executive order initiating a state-supported chess development program, covering the years 2009–2014.

History of chess in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan as a member of the USSR Organized chess began in Azerbaijan shortly after the creation of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1920, and the game soon became widespread. The first chess column appeared in the newspaper Bakinsky Rabochy in the early 1920s. In 1923 the first Baku championship took place, won by brothers Vladimir and Mikhail Makogonov. In 1924, a conference of Komsomol (Young Communist League) and trade unions set about promoting chess, leading to the participation of Fedor Duz-Khotimirsky and Nikolai Grigoriev in a tournament in Baku. Towards the end of the 1920s, a number of strong young players emerged, including the Sarychev and Danilov brothers, O. Rostovtsev, N. Doktorsky, K. Selimkhanov and A. Bilibin. Lectures and simultaneous exhibitions stimulated interest in chess in Azerbaijan. On May 2–3, 1929, a match between teams from Baku and Tbilisi was held on 8 boards in Baku.

In 1934 the first Azerbaijani Championship took place. This was won by Selimkhanov, who in 1935 became chairman of the Azerbaijan Chess Organization. in 1936 the first Women's Championship was held, won by Rozhdestvenskaya. In 1936, A. Polisskaya of Baku became women's champion of the South Caucasus. In 1938, a women's chess school was opened at the Baku Chess and Checkers Club.

During the Second World War, there was little competitive chess in Azerbaijan. In 1942 there was a match between Salo Flohr and Vladimir Makogonov in Baku; the match was abandoned after 10 games with Makogonov leading 5½-4½. In June–July 1943, Flohr won a double round tournament with a score of 5/8 ahead of Makogonov, David Bronstein, Archil Ebralidze and Suren Abramyan. The championship of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held annually from 1947.

The active development of chess in Azerbaijan began in the 1950s. The Baku Pioneer Palace Chess Club, led by Suren Abramyan, played an important role in the development of junior chess. Sports clubs such as Neftchi, Spartak, Nauka, Energiya, Medik, Iskra and others had active chess departments. These initiatives also contributed to the success of Vladimir Makogonov, Azerbaijan's leading player. The Azerbaijan women's championships has been held regularly since 1960.

In the 1950s, A.Zeynalli, S.Khalilbeyli (the 1st Azerbaijani master on chess) and V.Bagirov (repeated republic champion) became the leaders of the Republic chess-players. Elmar Magerramov, F.Sideifzade, O.Pavlenko, B.Levitas, L.Listengarten, O.Privorotskiy, G.Govashelishvili, L.Guldin, A.Morgulev and R.Korsunskiy won in championships. E.Sardarov, A.Shakhtakhtinskiy, R.Amirkhanov and D.Abakarov participated in competitions successfully.

In 1970-1980's, advance a number of young chess-players: A.Huseynov (champion of the South Caucasus, 1982), A.Shakarov, A.Velibeyov, S.Suleymanov, K.Askaryan, A.Avshalumov, Kh.Rasulov, S.Guliyev, Jabbarov brothers, G.Gojayev and others. In the 1980s, Garry Kasparov achieved great successes and became the world champion. T.Zatulovskaya, M.Martirosova, N.Avanesova (Karakashyan), A.Tokarjevskaya, A.Gorbuleva, A.Pirbudagova, Kh.Nabiyeva, S.Alasgarova, V.Jebrayilova, N.Agababayan, A.Saakova, E.Aliyeva, A.Sofiyeva (Champion of the USSR among girls, 1986) successfully participated in championships and other competitions. Women's national team of the Republic was the winner of a Sport Contest of the USSR nations (1986).

Besides the chess circle of Baku Palace of Pioneers and Pupils named after Y.Gagarin (including alumni – Kasparov, Bagirov, Zatulovskaya, Maharramov and others), such unions as “Spartak”, “Burevestnik”, “Neftchi”, “Dinamo” and others in rural areas- “Mehsul” union, which opened chess clubs were also engaged in chess. The 1st Baku Children and Youth Chess School of Azerbaijan (since 1982-Republic sport school of chess of the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan) was established in 1968. From the late 1970s, more than 50 sport schools for children and youth were opened in districts of the Republic. Annual chess festivals of pupils are held since 1982.

In Baku were held great All-union and international competitions: 29th and 49th Men's championships of the country (1961–1972); 23rd Women's championship (1963); 20th international tournament of the Central Chess Club of the USSR; Baku tournaments. National team of Azerbaijan participated in team championships of the USSR: in 1951-the 5th; 1958-10th; 1960-the 9th; 1952-10th; 1969 and 1972 – the 9th; 1981-14th; 1985-the 7th and 8th places. Team of the Republic participated in sport competitions of the USSR nations: in 1959, 1963, 1967 – the 9th; 1975 – the 11th; 1979 the 13th; 1983 – the 11th; 1986 - the 14th (men) and 1st places (women).

Modern times Since Azerbaijan gained its independence, Azerbaijani chess players have achieved high results in various international competitions, World and European championships. In 1992, the national team of women for the first time at the World Chess Olympiad in Manila, Philippines represented independent Azerbaijan and ranked 7th among 67 teams. The women team won bronze medals at the European Championship held in Debrecen, Hungary in 1993. The national team of men won bronze medals in 2007 in European Championship held in Greece. Men's team won the title of “Europe’s strongest team” in Serbia in 2009, then won silver medals in 2011 in Greece and in 2013 in Poland. In 2012 and 2014, the men's team “SOCAR-Azerbaijan” won inter-club European Championships twice. Azerbaijani grandmasters Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Radjabov and Vugar Hashimov managed to rise to the 4th and 6th places in the world rankings.

On May 5, 2009, the President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order to approve the “State Program for the Development of Chess in Azerbaijan for 2009-2014” to increase the country's international role in this area by ensuring the implementation of state policy in the field of chess, further development of chess and its infrastructure in the country, training of international chess players, coaches, arbiters and other chess specialists. In the framework of this State Program, Chess Faculty has been launched at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sport, “Chess” classes started to be taught in more than 70 schools in Azerbaijan.

Grandmaster Teymur Radjabov became the first owner of the World Chess Cup in the history of Azerbaijan on October 4, 2019, in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Individual statistics

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, lists 24 active Azerbaijani grandmasters, 30 international masters and a total of 151 titled players.

Open The Top 10 Azerbaijani grandmasters as of August 2022 are listed below.

# Player Birth year GM Title Rating World rank 1 1985 2002 2758 10 2 1987 2001 2747 15 3 1986 2002 2668 78 4 1988 2004 2656 93 5 1992 2010 2638 118 6 1995 2011 2633 129 7 1992 2008 2602 203 8 1995 2020 2589 245 9 1985 2006 2589 246 10 2001 2019 2575 299

Women The Top 10 Azerbaijani women chess players as of August 2022 are listed below.

# Player Birth year Title (year) Rating World rank 1 2000 IM (2018) 2466 1000 2 1996 WGM (2017) 2413 1668 3 1991 IM (2017) 2380 2350 4 2001 WGM (2019) 2344 3134 5 2003 WGM (2022) 2339 3253 6 1989 WGM (2015) 2280 5005 7 1983 WGM 2249 6140 8 1989 WGM (2007) 2244 6340 9 1993 WGM (2015) 2198 8454 10 1993 WGM (2015) 2183 9268

Team records

Chess Olympiads

Men's Year Event Location Players Position 1994 31st Chess Olympiad Moscow, Russia S.Guliyev, Hajily, N.Guliyev, Bedgarani, Ibrahimov, Allahverdiyev 36 1998 33rd Chess Olympiad Elista, Russia Huseynov, Guliyev, Hajily, Allahverdiyev, Mirzoev, Maherramzade43 2000 34th Chess Olympiad Istanbul, Turkey Zulfugarli, Maherramzade, Mirzoev, Bagirov, Mamedyarov, Mammadov 46 2002 35th Chess Olympiad Bled, Slovenia Radjabov, Gashimov, Huseynov, Mamedyarov, Ibrahimov, Maherramzade 30 2004 36th Chess Olympiad Calviá, Spain Radjabov, Gashimov, Huseynov, Mamedyarov, Mamedov, Ibrahimov 22 2006 37th Chess Olympiad Turin, Italy Radjabov, Gashimov, Huseynov, Guliyev, Mamedov, Durarbeyli24 2008 38th Chess Olympiad Dresden, Germany Radjabov, Gashimov, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov 6 2010 39th Chess Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Radjabov, Safarli, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov 12 2012 40th Chess Olympiad Istanbul, Turkey Radjabov, Safarli, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov 10 2014 41st Chess Olympiad Tromsø, Norway Radjabov, Safarli, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov 5 2016 42nd Chess Olympiad Baku, Azerbaijan Sh.Mamedyarov, T.Radjabov, R.Mamedov, A.Naiditsch, E.Safarli 12

Women's Year Event Location Players Position 1992 30th Chess Olympiad Manila, Philippines Sofiyeva, Velikhanli, Kadimova, Babayeva 7 1994 31st Chess Olympiad Moscow, Russia Sofiyeva, Velikhanli, Kadimova, Babayeva 18 1998 33rd Chess Olympiad Elista, Russia Aliyeva, Mammadyarova, Shukurova 30 2000 34th Chess Olympiad Istanbul, Turkey Babayeva, Aliyeva, Shukurova, Mammadyarova 21 2002 35th Chess Olympiad Bled, Slovenia Velikhanli, Shukurova, Z.Mammadyarova, T.Mammadyarova 8 2004 36th Chess Olympiad Calviá, Spain Mammadyarova, Shukurova, Velikhanli, Khudaverdiyeva 22 2006 37th Chess Olympiad Turin, Italy Isgandarova, Umudova, Agasiyeva, Avdeeva 51 2008 38th Chess Olympiad Dresden, Germany Z.Mammadyarova, T.Mammadyarova, Umudova, Isgandarova, Kazimova 31 2010 39th Chess Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Z.Mammadyarova, T.Mammadyarova, Mammadova, Isgandarova, Umudova 7 2012 40th Chess Olympiad Istanbul, Turkey Z.Mammadyarova, T.Mammadyarova, Mammadova, Isgandarova, Umudova 28 2014 41st Chess Olympiad Tromsø, Norway Z.Mammadyarova, T.Mammadyarova, Mammadova, Abdulla, Ibrahimova23 2016 42nd Chess Olympiad Baku, Azerbaijan Z.Mamedyarova, G.Mammadzada, G.Mammadova, A.Hojjatova, N.Kazimova8

World Team Championships

Men's Year Location Players Position 2010 Bursa, Turkey Radjabov, Mammadov, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov, Gashimov 4 2011 Ningbo, China Radjabov, Huseynov, Mamedov, Mamedyarov, Gashimov 7 2013 Antalya, Turkey Mamedov, Safarli, Huseynov, Mammadov, Durarbayli 8

European Team Championships Men's

Year Location Players Position 1992 Debrecen, Hungary 40 1997 Pula, Croatia Guliyev, Huseynov, Allakhverdiev, Hajily, Sideif-sade 15 1999 Batumi, Georgia Bagirov, Hajily, Zulfugarli, Ibrahimov 22 2001 León, Spain Radjabov, Gashimov, Ibrahimov, Mamedyarov 22 2003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Ibrahimov, Sideif-sade 16 2005 Gothenburg, Sweden Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Gashimov, Guliyev 9 2007 Heraklion, Greece Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Gashimov, Mamedov 2009 Novi Sad, Serbia Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Gashimov, Mamedov 2011 Porto Carras, Greece Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Gashimov, Safarli 2013 Warsaw, Poland Radjabov, Mamedyarov, Huseynov, Safarli, Mamedov

Women's Year Location Players Position 1992 Debrecen, Hungary Velikhanli, Kadimova 1997 Pula, Croatia Velikhanli, Aliyeva, Kadimova 12 1999 Batumi, Georgia Babayeva, Shukurova 13 2001 León, Spain Z.Mamedyarova, Shukurova 8 2003 Plovdiv, Bulgaria Z.Mamedyarova, T.Mamedyarova 17 2007 Heraklion, Greece Z.Mamedyarova, T.Mamedyarova, Kadimova, Umudova, Isgandarova 10 2009 Novi Sad, Serbia Z.Mamedyarova, T.Mamedyarova, Kazimova, Mammadova, Isgandarova 4 2011 Porto Carras, Greece Z.Mamedyarova, T.Mamedyarova, Kazimova, Mammadova, Umudova 20 2013 Warsaw, Poland Z.Mamedyarova, T.Mamedyarova, Abdulla, Mammadova, Umudova 20

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