Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The first round of the 42nd World Chess Olympiad will start on Friday at 15:00 at the Baku Crystal Hall.

The Baku Olympiad will come down in history with a record-breaking participation of teams representing 176 countries – a total of 181 men`s and 142 women’s teams will compete in this sporting event.

In the first round, the Azerbaijani first team will compete with Zimbabwe, while the second national team will face Mozambique and rival for the third team will be chess masters from Papua New Guinea.

Azerbaijan men`s team includes Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Rajabov, Rauf Mammadov, Eltaj Safarli and Arkadij Naiditsch. Azerbaijan 2 team is comprised of Vasif Durarbayli, Namig Guliyev, Gadir Huseynov, Nijat Abasov and Ulvi Bajarani. Azerbaijan 3 team consists of Nail Bashirli, Muhammad Muradli, Vugar Asadli, Parviz Gasimov and Abdulla Gadimbayli.

Traditionally, the main contenders of the Azerbaijani men's team will be teams from Russia, the U.S., China, Ukraine, France and Poland.

In the women's competition, the first Azerbaijani team will face Nicaragua; the second team will play against Japan, and the third - Lesotho.

Azerbaijan women`s team includes Zeynab Mammadyarova, Gunay Mammadzade, Aydan Hojjatova, Gulnar Mammadova and Narmin Kazimova. Azerbaijan 2 team is comprised of Turkan Mammadyarova, Nargiz Umudova, Khayala Abdulla, Ulviyya Fataliyeva and Narmin Khalafova. Azerbaijan 3 team consists of Narmin Mammadova, Khanım Balajayeva, Govhar Beydullayeva, Ayan Allahverdiyeva and Aynur Katanova.

The main rivals of the national women’s team will be chess masters from China, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, India, the U.S., and Hungary.

First 10 rounds of the Olympiad will be held at 15:00 at Crystal Hall, and the last 11th round will start at 11:00.

Men’s teams

Azerbaijan 1 - Zimbabwe

Shakhriyar Mammadyarov vs Makoto Rodwell
Teymur Rajabov vs Mandizha Farai
Arkadij Naiditsch vs Masango Spencer
Safarli, Eltaj vs Mushore Takudzwa

Azerbaijan 2- Mozambique

Durarbayli, Vasif vs Mateus Felizardo Viageiro
Abasov, Nijat vs Wilton Inacio
Guseinov, Gadir vs Chunguane, Ilidio Alberto
Guliyev, Namig vs Paiva, Donaldo

Papua New Guinea 3 -Azerbaijan

Fancy, Stuart vs Asadli, Vugar
Marko, Helmut vs Bashirli, Nail
Marko, Helmut Jr vs Muradli, Mahammad
Skehan, Craig vs Gasimov, Parviz

Women’s teams

Nicaragua - Azerbaijan 1

Mendieta, Kathya vs Mamedjarova, Zeinab
Granados Diaz, Maria Esther vs Mammadova, Gulnar
Alarcon, Pamela vs Hojjatova, Aydan
Moraga, Maria vs Kazimova, Narminc

Japan - Azerbaijan 2

Ishizuka, Mirai vs Mamedjarova, Turkan
Hoshino, Karen vs Abdulla, Khayala
Sakai, Azumi vs Fataliyeva, Ulviyya
Shibata, Misaki vs Umudova, Nargiz

Lesotho - Azerbaijan 3

Leboela, Maboloko vs Mammadova, Narmin
Hatane, Tiisetso vs Balajayeva, Khanim
Lieketseng Ngatane, vs Beydullayeva, Govhar
Naleli Mcpherson vs Katanova, Aynur

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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