Azerbaijani chess star dominating at World Junior U-20 Chess Championship

Azerbaijani chess master Ayan Allahverdiyeva is leading the Azerbaijani delegation at the World Junior U-20 Chess Championship in Petrovac, Montenegro, after an impressive performance in the 5th round of the tournament. 

With 4.5 points, Allahverdiyeva is currently at the top of the standings, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Azerbaijan is represented by five players in the competition, and two of them, Allahverdiyeva and Lala Huseynova, secured victories in their respective matches. However, Narmin Abdinova, Shiroghlan Talibov, and Khazar Babazada faced defeats in their games.

Despite the setbacks for some players, Allahverdiyeva's strong performance has placed her in a promising position as the tournament progresses. The competition follows the Swiss system, with a total of 11 rounds, offering ample opportunity for the Azerbaijani players to make their mark.

The FIDE World Junior U-20 Chess Championship 2025 is currently underway in Petrovac, Montenegro, having commenced on February 25. This prestigious tournament features two categories: Open and Girls, with nearly 230 players from 44 countries competing. The Open section includes 157 players, among them 12 Grandmasters, with Belgium's GM Daniel Dardha (Elo 2651) as the top seed. The Girls' section has attracted 98 players, including seven Woman Grandmasters, with China's IM Lu Miaoyi (Elo 2432) leading the field.

The championship kicked off with an opening ceremony attended by Montenegro’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Dragoslav Scekic, and Jovan Milovic, President of the Montenegro Chess Federation. The first round featured intense matches, including a notable game where GM Aleksey Grebnev narrowly escaped defeat against FM Mateu Boci of Albania. Despite being in a precarious position, Grebnev managed to secure a win, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament.

By Khagan Isayev