Coming within reach of triumph The Batumi dream that turned sour/ European Team Chess Championship

The European Team Chess Championship has come to an end in Batumi, Georgia, with both the men’s and women’s national teams of Azerbaijan having taken part.

The tournament followed a nine-round Swiss system, featuring 40 teams in the men’s section and 36 in the women’s.

Let’s start with those who came within a step of triumph — namely the men’s team — who narrowly missed the chance to secure a fourth European title for Azerbaijan in the final round. Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Rauf Mammadov, Aydin Suleymanli, Magomed Muradli, and Eltaj Safarli lost 1–3 to Serbia in the ninth and final round. Safarli won his match, while Mammadyarov, Suleymanli, and Mammadov were defeated.

Earlier, the Azerbaijani grandmasters faced Slovakia (3–1), the Czech Republic (2–2), Poland (2.5–1.5), the Netherlands (2–2), Greece (2–2), Armenia (2.5–1.5), Hungary (3–1), and Ukraine (2.5–1.5).

As a result, the men’s team finished second with 13 points, just behind Ukraine — even though Azerbaijan had beaten them in their head-to-head match.

Undoubtedly, this outcome is disappointing. However, considering the team's grave performance at the previous European Championship, finishing only in 18th place, this year’s result can be considered, if not a triumph, then at least a remarkable comeback. The return of Eltaj Safarli to the national team after a long absence clearly benefited the squad. Mammadyarov, who played in the first match, may have faltered in the last round, but performed, overall, as a true leader throughout the competition. Team captain Teimour Radjabov also demonstrated that, no matter how high he rises or what other endeavours he pursues beyond chess, he remains close to his team. Likewise, the role of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation’s leadership in building a cohesive team of strong personalities cannot be overstated, for uniting such a diverse group of strong-willed individuals is no easy task.

Now we turn to the women’s team. Before the championship, they were ranked fourth among the participating teams. Given that Azerbaijan’s women had claimed silver medals at the previous European Championship, expectations were high for another podium finish. However, they delivered quite an unpleasant surprise in the end, managing only a tenth-place finish.

Yes, the team was without its leader, Gunay Mammadzade, who is currently on maternity leave — the most pleasant kind of vacation for any woman. And yes, her replacement, Ayan Allahverdiyeva, did not perform at her best. However, considering that the team captain was the federation’s own secretary general, Ilaha Gadirova, and that the lineup included the likes of Ulviyya Fataliyeva, Govhar Beydullayeva, Khanim Balajayeva, and Gulnar Mammadova, one could have expected far stronger results.

Especially after such a solid start, with victories over Slovenia (4–0), Hungary (2.5–1.5), a draw with Greece (2–2), and a win against Armenia (3–1). But then something went wrong — draws and losses followed against France (2–2), Germany (1.5–2.5), Georgia (1.5–2.5), and Romania (2.5–1.5). Finally, in the last round, when there was still a chance to improve the standings, the team lost to Poland (1.5–2.5).

It is unclear what took place inside the team, but it clearly affected their play, which is something that should never happen in a major championship. It’s a pity that there turned out to be a “spoonful of tar” in Batumi’s “barrel of honey” that no one saw coming.

By Vugar Vugarli, exclusively for Caliber.Az