The First Division of the Azerbaijan Chess Championship has concluded, determining the qualifiers for the national event. Umid Aslanov topped the men's section with seven points, while Lala Huseynov led the women's with eight. The national championship is set for February 6 to 22.
The Azerbaijan Chess Federation has revealed the finalists for the upcoming national championship following the end of the First Division tournament at the Republican Chess Center in Baku. The competition, governed by FIDE rules and employing the Swiss system across nine rounds, featured 36 players in the men's category and 18 in the women's.
In the men's event, Umid Aslanov secured first place with seven points, qualifying alongside Ravan Əliyev, Farid Orujov, Kanan Garayev, Shamsi Garakhanov, Ravan Uguzov, Kanan Isbatov, Pasham Alizade, and Suat Ibrahimli, who placed in the top nine. Namiq Guliyev's decision to decline participation allowed Allahverdi Hamidov, who finished 10th, to also advance, bringing the total to 10 male qualifiers.
The women's competition saw Lala Huseynov claim victory with eight points, joined by Zahra Allahverdi as the second qualifier. This selection process ensures the top performers from the First Division represent Azerbaijan in the national championship.
Established in 1926, the Azerbaijan Chess Federation has nurtured the nation's chess heritage through organizing tournaments, training initiatives, and supporting players from youth to grandmaster levels. The federation's efforts have contributed to strong showings by national teams in events like the Chess Olympiad and World Chess Championship.
The national championship, a key event in Azerbaijan's sporting calendar, will run from February 6 to 22, showcasing the country's top chess talents.