International chess excitement begins in Baku

Azerbaijan’s capital Baku is hosting a major chess event from April 27 to May 6, 2026. The 2026 Baku International Open Chess Tournament will officially get underway today with the first-round games. With a total prize fund of $50,000, the event stands out as one of the notable open tournaments on the calendar, bringing together strong players from regional countries and various federations.

The tournament is being held in three separate sections: A, B, and C, offering a competitive environment for players from different rating groups. Section A draws particular attention with its field of titled players, while Sections B and C provide an important opportunity for developing competitors to gain international experience. Open tournaments are not only about scoring points; they are also serious platforms where opening preparation, middlegame planning, and decision-making under time control are put to the test.

Turkey will be represented in Baku by 11 players this year. In Section A, GM Vahap Şanal, FM Gediz Avşar, and CM Ali Batuhan Bıyıksız will compete. In Section B, Bora Yağız and Kağan Alp will take part. In Section C, Lev Selim, Enes Altunışık, Hasan Toprak Aslanoğlu, Talya Aslanoğlu, Atilla Kara, and Uras Karakuş will make their moves. This lineup shows that Turkey has built broad representation at the event with both experienced and developing players.

The first-round games are scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m. Turkey time, and the pairings on the top boards may offer early clues about the direction of the tournament. Although the opening rounds of open events often feature controlled games by the favorites, surprise results are always possible. For that reason, the competition in Baku will be closely followed not only in terms of final standings, but also for what it reveals about the players’ current form and their strength in international competition. The performance of the squad announced by the Turkish Chess Federation is likely to gain even greater significance in the later rounds.