International Chess Festival Sheki Open 2026 kicks off

The opening ceremony of the Sheki Open 2026 International Chess Festival was held in Sheki.

According to Report, the event began with the performance of the national anthem of Azerbaijan and a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs.

Welcoming speeches were delivered by the Head of the Executive Power of Sheki, Elkhan Usubov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation Mahir Mammadov, tournament organizer Tabriz Idrisov, and Vahid Mustafayev. The ceremony was also attended by the Federation"s First Vice President Faig Hasanov.

Chief arbiter of the competition, International Arbiter Shaig Guliyev, briefed participants on the tournament regulations and organizational matters.

More than 400 chess players from Azerbaijan, Hungary, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, China, Iran, Türkiye, and Ukraine are taking part in the festival, along with players competing under the FIDE flag.

The competitions are being held under the Swiss system over nine rounds. Participants are competing in Groups A, B, and C, as well as in rapid and blitz tournaments.

The top-rated player in the event is international grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov, representing Hungary, with a rating of 2556.

The festival will continue until June 25.