Azerbaijani grandmaster competes in Dutch chess tournament for top ranking Tata Steel Chess 2026: Challengers

One of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar, the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, has kicked off in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands on January 18. Traditionally referred to as the “Wimbledon of Chess,” the tournament attracts the world’s top chess grandmasters and emerging talents. The tournament's second tier, the Tata Steel Challengers 2026, sees Azerbaijani Grandmaster Aydin Suleymanli participating as one of its 14 players.

The participants come from all over the world and represent a mix of established grandmasters and promising talents, with 11 of the players having been born after 2000. The winner of the Challengers event earns a spot in the prestigious Masters tournament in 2027.

In the seventh round, Suleymanli drew his game against American Andy Woodward. He will be facing the US player Carissa Yip in the eighth round. He currently has five points and remains in third place in the tournament, which will continue until February 1.

Born in 2005, Suleymanli won the World Youth Chess Championship in the O14 age group and continues to make his mark in international tournaments. As of December 2025, he holds a FIDE rating of 2628, ranking 101st worldwide and 5th within Azerbaijan.

Suleymanli repeatedly represented Azerbaijan at the European Youth Chess Championships and World Youth Chess Championships in different age groups, where he won three gold medals: in 2013, in Budva at the European Youth Chess Championship in the U08 age group and was awarded the FIDE master (FM) title, and in 2017, in Mamaia at the European Youth Chess Championship in the U12 age group. In 2014, in Tallinn he won European Youth Chess Championships in blitz and rapid in the U10 age group.In 2019, he won World Youth Chess Championship in O14 age group. In February 2020 Suleymanli came first in the Aeroflot Open.

By Nazrin Sadigova