On May 10th the FIDE President visited Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan where finished the 5th International Chess Festival Nakhchivan Open dedicated to the 92nd anniversary of Heydar Aliyev. The national leader, former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev contributed to the development and formation of his country. In the same time, he loved and devoted a lot of time to chess. No wonder the tournament gathered such an impressive list of participants including three former world chess champions: Alexander Khalifman, Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Hou Yifan. Nearly 300 chess players participated in the tournament held in the amazing Nakhchivan Chess Center. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan, noted that chess is included in the school curriculum in Nakhchivan; there are chess clubs in all seven regions of the republic and Chess Center in the capital. The popularization of chess produced the results. At the last FIDE Presidential Board meeting in Chengdu, the native of Nakhchivan Adil Sevdimaliyev was awarded GM title and Emin Hajiyev became an International Arbiter.
FIDE President took part in the ceremony of flower laying at the pedestal of Heydar Aliyev, visited the museum of Nakhchivan and enjoyed the concert dedicated to the memory of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev.
Then Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President, Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan, Azad Rahimov, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, arrived to the Chess Center before the last round to award the chess players of Nakhchivan the certificates and pins for the Arbiters’ titles, International Master title, and Grandmaster titles. In his speech, the FIDE President noted that Azerbaijan would become a chess center in the next two years, as Baku will host the FIDE World Chess Cup in September 2015 and World Chess Olympiad in 2016.

Visiting the museum of Nakhchivan

FIDE President took part in the ceremony of flower laying at the pedestal of Heydar Aliyev


The Vice Presidents of Azerbaijan Chess Federation Faik Gasanov and Mahir Mamedov

The concert dedicated to the memory of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev

Nakhchivan Chess Center. Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan, and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President

Flags of participants

The former World Chess Champions: GM Alexander Khalifman vs GM Hou Yifan


Former World Chess Champion GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov vs GM Luka Paichadze

The Arbiters of the tournament

The top players are playing on top


The tournament hall

FIDE President addressing to the participants of Nakhchivan Open 2015


Vasif Talibov, the Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan welcomed the guests and participants

Adil Sevdimaliyev was awarded GM title approved by FIDE Presidential Board in Chengdu

GM Eltaj Safarli (right), the winner of Nakhchivan Open 2015, is under President's control

Emin Hajiyev was awarded the International Arbiter certificate


The 5th International Chess Festival Nakhchivan Open was dedicated to the memory of nationwide leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev

 
FIDE President giving an interview to the local mass media

Vasif Talibov is strong in everything

Vasif Talibov receiving the souvenir from the FIDE President