The 2026 Baku Open International Chess Festival concluded at the iconic Crystal Hall, marking a historic victory for one of the game’s rising stars. Iranian Grandmaster Sina Movahed, aged just 15, delivered a masterclass performance to claim the title in one of the most competitive editions of the tournament to date.
Movahed’s performance was nothing short of dominant. In a field packed with seasoned Grandmasters and elite talent, the young star finished with an impressive 8 points out of 9, staying a full 1.5 points ahead of a massive chasing pack. His clinical play throughout the tournament demonstrated a maturity well beyond his years, securing the championship well before the final matches concluded.
The flagship Group A tournament featured a elite lineup of 100 participants from 10 different countries. The strength of the field was underscored by the presence of 16 Grandmasters, including world-renowned names such as Daniil Dubov and former FIDE World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov. Despite the immense pressure from these established stars, the youth movement led the way at the top of the standings.
Beyond the battle for first place, the tournament served as a crucial stage for rising stars to achieve professional milestones. Both IM Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy (India) and IM Khazar Babazada (Azerbaijan) successfully completed Grandmaster (GM) norms following their exceptional performances. Both players finished with 6.5 points, leading a group of seven players who shared second place.
Organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, the festival brought together hundreds of players across three sections (Groups A, B, and C).
Group A final standings:
1 GM Movahed Sina IRI 2575 – 8
2 IM Ajay Santhosh Parvathareddy IND 2473 – 6.5
3 IM Babazada Khazar AZE 2480 – 6.5
4 GM Sanal Vahap TUR 2551 – 6.5
5 GM Dubov Daniil FID 2654 – 6.5
6 IM Mayank Chakraborty IND 2508 – 6.5
7 GM Ilamparthi A R IND 2525 – 6.5
8 GM Ponomariov Ruslan UKR 2636 – 6.5
9 GM Pranav Anand IND 2596 – 6
10 IM Stribuk Artiom FID 2458 – 6
11 IM Ibrahimli Murad AZE 2445 – 6
12 IM Ayush Sharma IND 2415 – 6
13 IM Talibov Shiroghlan AZE 2482 – 6
14 IM Aradhya Garg IND 2429 – 6
15 FM Davudov Tunar AZE 2349 – 5.5
16 IM Kaufman David FID 2475 – 5.5
17 GM Iskandarov Misratdin AZE 2522 – 5.5
18 GM Abdisalimov Abdimalik UZB 2553 – 5.5
19 CM Advik Amit Agrawal IND 2274 – 5.5
20 GM Abasov Nijat AZE 2586 – 5.5
21 IM Ahmad Khagan AZE 2483 – 5.5
22 IM Manafov Vugar AZE 2432 – 5.5
23 FM Hamidov Allahverdi AZE 2289 – 5.5
24 IM Apoorv Kamble IND 2431 – 5.5
25 IM Shogdzhiev Roman FID 2431 – 5.5
26 IM Poormosavi Seyed Kian IRI 2378 – 5.5
27 CM Mescheryakov Artem FID 2239 – 5
28 FM Suleymanli Suleyman AZE 2348 – 5
29 FM Sharifov Mekhriddin TJK 2259 – 5
30 IM Anuj Shrivatri IND 2478 – 5
31 IM Shuvalova Polina FID 2502 – 5
32 IM Lu Miaoyi CHN 2429 – 5
33 IM Ilkhomi Jaloliddin TJK 2373 – 5
34 FM Kudrin Ivan FID 2272 – 5
35 IM Sek Konstantin FID 2353 – 5
36 FM Gadzhiev Ruslan FID 2311 – 5
37 IM Novozhilov Semen FID 2473 – 5
38 FM Temirbekov Taimaz FID 2326 – 5
39 WGM Goltseva Ekaterina FID 2349 – 5
40 FM Suslov Dmitrii FID 2328 – 5
41 GM Mousavi Seyed Khalil IRI 2472 – 4.5
42 GM Nigmatov Ortik UZB 2463 – 4.5
43 FM Talgatov Nazar KAZ 2286 – 4.5
44 WIM Allahverdiyeva Ayan AZE 2267 – 4.5
45 FM Kishiev Famil FID 2303 – 4.5
46 WFM Poliakova Varvara FID 2108 – 4.5
47 FM Bozorov Javohir UZB 2283 – 4.5
48 FM Garakhanov Shamsi AZE 2302 – 4.5
49 IM Guliev Logman AZE 2238 – 4.5
50 WIM Maletina Tatiana FID 2196 – 4.5
51 FM Kleimenov Nikolay FID 2301 – 4.5
52 FM Aarav Sinha IND 2315 – 4.5
53 FM Lyutsinger Iren FID 2216 – 4.5
54 FM Jaiveer Mahendru IND 2311 – 4.5
55 FM Rustamov Rustam AZE 2320 – 4.5
56 FM Krishnan Ritvik IND 2375 – 4.5
57 FM Vasilkov Nikolay FID 2300 – 4.5
58 IM Kuderinov Kirill KAZ 2327 – 4.5
59 WGM Omonova Umida UZB 2358 – 4.5
60 Umarov Bekhruz UZB 2317 – 4.5
61 FM Melnikov Fedor FID 2278 – 4
62 IM Sahib Singh IND 2376 – 4
63 CM Petukhov Dmitriy FID 2262 – 4
64 FM Fedosov Alexander FID 2263 – 4
65 WIM Karimova Guldona UZB 2267 – 4
66 FM Orujov Farid AZE 2304 – 4
67 FM Aarit Kapil IND 2304 – 4
68 FM Aslanov Umid AZE 2368 – 4
69 FM Zeynalli Rashad AZE 2278 – 4
70 FM Plotnikov Boris FID 2330 – 4
71 GM Guliyev Namig AZE 2481 – 4
72 FM Valiyev Shahin AZE 2408 – 4
73 CM Baturin-Vinogradov Miroslav FID 2249 – 3.5
74 FM Kornienko Konstantin FID 2403 – 3.5
75 WFM Shubenkova Veronika FID 2085 – 3.5
76 WGM Mamedjarova Turkan AZE 2222 – 3.5
77 FM Lisenkov Svyatoslav FID 2363 – 3.5
78 WIM Ismayil Malak AZE 2122 – 3.5
79 Goriachkina Oksana FID 2122 – 3.5
80 CM Biyiksiz Ali Batuhan TUR 2268 – 3.5
81 WIM Tarasenka Aliaksandra FID 2245 – 3.5
82 CM Delavari Behnood IRI 2250 – 3.5
83 FM Fedorov Artem Alek FID 2315 – 3.5
84 FM Ughuzov Ravan AZE 2276 – 3.5
85 FM Bardyk Artem FID 2411 – 3.5
86 WIM Abdinova Narmin AZE 2159 – 3
87 FM Levchenko Leonid FID 2292 – 3
88 FM Sherali Pattnaik IND 2153 – 3
89 WFM Sneha Halder IND 2232 – 2.5
90 WFM Huseynova Lala AZE 2130 – 2.5
91 FM Arshiya Das IND 2296 – 2.5
92 WIM Malikova Marjona UZB 2110 – 2.5
93 WCM Khalilova Madinabonu UZB 2226 – 2.5
94 WFM Aghaverdiyeva Maryam AZE 2137 – 2.5
95 FM Arnav Agrawal IND 2304 – 2.5
96 FM Avsar Gediz TUR 2422 – 2.5
97 CM Javadov Habil AZE 2240 – 2
98 WCM Anishka Vikram IND 2129 – 2
99 FM Kazmin Semen FID 2281 – 0.5
100 WGM Xu Yuanyuan CHN 2300 – 0.5
