Murad Ibrahimli Wins the Shirvan Open 2026 in Azerbaijan

IM Murad Ibrahimli won Group A of the Shirvan Open 2026 with 7.5 points from 9 games, half a point ahead of GM Visakh N R and GM Namig Guliyev.

IM Murad Ibrahimli has won the Shirvan Open 2026 in Azerbaijan. He finished first in Group A with 7.5 points from 9 games.

The Shirvan Open was a 9-round Swiss with 90 minutes per player plus 30 seconds per move. Grandmasters and young players from many countries took part.

Ibrahimli won his final game with Black against FM Mahammad Baghirov in 39 moves, in a Nimzo-Indian Defense. That win took him half a point clear of the field.

Two grandmasters finished just behind him on 7 points. Azerbaijan's GM Namig Guliyev took second place on tiebreak, and India's GM Visakh N R, the top seed, was third after winning a long 89-move game in the last round.

Two young players shared fourth place with 6 points: FM Islam Hajialiyev, who plays in the under-18 category, and Banik Hrishikesh Kumar, who plays in the under-16 category.

Ibrahimli's win is a good example of what is possible in an open tournament. He finished ahead of higher-rated grandmasters by scoring well throughout the event and winning when it mattered most.

The final round also shows the value of fighting in every game. Several of the leading players won their last games, which shows that they were ready to play for a win instead of settling for a quick draw.

For young players, open tournaments like Shirvan are a great opportunity. Playing against grandmasters is one of the fastest ways to learn, even when the results do not go your way.

Congratulations to Murad Ibrahimli on winning the Shirvan Open 2026.