Azerbaijan’s chess legend sets Guinness record for career longevity

Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, Faig Hasanov, has officially earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records for his outstanding career as a chess referee.

This prestigious recognition was announced at a special event celebrating his 85th anniversary, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The ceremony, which took place with notable attendees from the world of chess, was graced by Youth and Sports Minister Farid Gayibov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and FIDE Vice-President Mahir Mammadov, former head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of the Georgian Chess Federation Akaki Iashvili, five-time world champion Nona Gaprindashvili, national chess team member Shahriyar Mammadyarov, and others.

During the event, it was revealed that Faig Hasanov has been officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the male chess judge with the longest career in the history of the sport. Hasanov, whose work spans an impressive 60 years and 149 days, has dedicated his life to officiating at various international chess competitions. The Guinness World Records representative, Sheida Subashi, confirmed that all the information was thoroughly reviewed and met the required conditions for the record.

Faig Hasanov’s career as a chess referee began in 1964 with his first international tournament in Baku. Over the years, he officiated numerous prestigious events, including sports contests between the nations of the USSR. In 1980, he was awarded the title of International Arbiter by FIDE. Hasanov has served as a referee for World and European Championships, Olympiads, and the World Team Chess Championship. He also officiated the Linares tournament for 20 years and was the chief arbiter of the first FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Baku. Notably, he was a member of the reconstituted Appeal Committee during the 2006 World Chess Championship.

In addition to his work as an arbiter, Hasanov is a well-known television presenter, having hosted the weekly Şahmat Klubu (Chess Club) program on AzTV for 40 years. The program is considered one of the longest-running in the channel's history.

For his significant contributions to the development of chess in Azerbaijan, Hasanov was awarded the Shohrat Order (Order of Glory). Since 2006, he has also served as the vice-president of the Azerbaijani Chess Federation.

In addition to celebrating Hasanov’s achievement, the event also saw congratulations extended to Shahriyar Mammadyarov, a celebrated member of Azerbaijan's national chess team. Mammadyarov, a three-time European Champion and World Rapid Champion, was also recognized for recently turning 40.

By Vafa Guliyeva