A chess tournament titled “President Cup,” dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people, was held in New York, USA.

The tournament was organized by Chess Father, a company headed by internationally-rated chess player Elvin Bagir-Pour, who has lived in the United States for many years, with the support of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The tournament began with honouring the cherished memory of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev with deep respect.

In his speech, Elvin Bagir-Pour highlighted the National Leader’s irreplaceable role in the development of chess in Azerbaijan. He noted that, at the initiative of the genius statesman Heydar Aliyev, the country’s first chess schools were established and favourable conditions were created for talented chess players to participate in various competitions.

Held under the Swiss system format, the tournament brought together nearly 100 participants between the ages of 5 and 60, who competed under the supervision of certified referees.

The tournament featured renowned grandmasters such as Alexander Lenderman, Mykola Bortnyk, and Liam Henry, as well as Azerbaijani chess player Shami Abdullayev. Remarking on the high calibre of his opponents, our compatriot highlighted that such international tournaments generate great interest among chess enthusiasts.

According to the final results of the tournament, Liam Henry clinched first place, followed by James Black in second, and Alexander Lenderman in third places. The winners were presented with cups and medals by Elshad Aliyev, Deputy Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Tofig Musayev, the Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations.

It should be noted that the “President Cup” chess tournament has been held for the fourth time since the 100th anniversary of the birth of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev and has been officially registered by the United States Chess Federation.