Winning the national championship at 19

Press release by FIDE

Aydin Suleymanli (pictured above with his father) emerged as the winner of the Azerbaijani Championship 2024. The 19-year-old native of Baku prevailed over Mahammad Muradli in the final match to capture his maiden national title.

The Azerbaijan Championship 2024, with a total prize fund of USD 18,000, took place from April 11-26, 2024. The tournament featured eight grandmasters and five international masters, with some notable absences from top Azerbaijani players like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Rauf Mamedov, and the defending champion Vasif Durarbayli.

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Like a year before, the competition consisted of two stages. The first stage was a 9-round Swiss tournament with classical time control. The top four finishers — Mahammad Muradli (7/9), Aydin Suleymanli (6½/9), Khazar Babazada (5½/9) and Vugar Rasulov (5½/9) — advanced to the playoffs (two-game matches) to determine the champion.

Azerbaijani Chess Federation

The top seed Muradli and Suleymanli confirmed their statues as the tournament favourites and met in the final. The first game was drawn, whereas in the second one, Aydin Suleymanli scored the decisive victory with a spectacular queen sacrifice.

29.Qxg6! Nd7 (29…hxg6 30.Rh3+) 30.Qh6 Nxf6 31.Rxf6 Rxf6 32.Rxf6 d5 33.cxd5 exd5 and Aydin won on move 41, clinching the title.

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In the match for bronze, Vugar Rasulov convincingly outplayed Khazar Babazada to complete the podium.

During a short closing ceremony, Mahir Mammadov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Vice President of FIDE, and Faig Hasanov, First Vice President of ASF, presented awards to the winners.

Azerbaijani Chess Federation

All available games - First stage

All available games - Playoff

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