Mahammad Muradli claimed his third Azerbaijani chess title by defeating Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the final, while Ulviyya Fataliyeva secured her first national crown over Ayan Allahverdiyeva. The 2026 championships concluded in Baku after intense knockout matches. Both events featured classical time controls and substantial prize funds.
The 2026 Azerbaijan Championships unfolded in Baku from February 6 to 22, drawing 30 participants in the open section. Organized as knockout tournaments with two-game matches and tiebreakers, the open event offered a prize fund of 62,000 AZN (approximately $36,500 USD), while the women's competition had 30,000 AZN (about $17,500 USD).
In the open tournament, Muradli advanced steadily, defeating Eltaj Safarli in a rapid tiebreaker during the quarterfinals. The 2025 champion Rauf Mamedov was eliminated by IM Read Samadov at that stage. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, the rating favorite and previous finalist, reached the semifinals without tiebreaks. Muradli then outplayed Samadov, drawing the first game and winning the second to advance. Mamedyarov edged out young Aydin Suleymanli in a tense semifinal, clinching the third rapid game.
The final saw a draw in the first game after a tactical battle, but Muradli capitalized on Mamedyarov's opening error in the second to win the match and title. Suleymanli took bronze by defeating Samadov twice in the third-place match.
The women's event highlighted top seed IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva, who progressed smoothly to the final. Seventh seed WIM Ayan Allahverdiyeva surprised by ousting defending champion Gunay Mammadzada in the quarterfinals, emerging as the tournament's revelation. Despite the rating gap, the final was close: each won a classical game, but Fataliyeva dominated the tiebreak for her maiden title. Gulnar Mammadova secured third place with a 1.5-0.5 win over Turkan Mammadyarova.
