Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Emotions are running high with the approach of one of the most exciting events in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku in early September -- the 42nd World Chess Olympiad.

Azerbaijani men’s team has already had intensive preparations for the competition and started the second stage of the training in Gabala for the Chess Olympiad.

The team squad, which includes Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Teymur Rajabov, Eltaj Safarli and Rauf Mammadov, is trained for the Olympiads under leading of French Grandmaster Etienne Bacrot.

“According to the plan, the second training session will last 15 days. We will work on openings and some complex combinations with the national team. Overall, the national team is in quite high mood. There are excellent conditions for training. While in Gabala, chess players can also do sports. The next training session is scheduled for August,” Bacrot said.

Azerbaijani chess player Rauf Mammadov shared his views on the forthcoming Olympiad.

Many people in Azerbaijan like this kind of sport, and I hope that we will finally take the Olympic medal.

“We will represent the country with three teams in both male and female category, i.e. 30 national chess players will compete in the event,” he said.

Twenty-eight-year-old international grandmaster Mammadov is a two-time European champion (2009 and 2013) in team championship.

He began playing chess at the age of seven. In 2004, he became a Grandmaster, following his victory during international tournament in Dubai.

Rauf won the Azerbaijani championship three times in 2006, 2008 and 2015.

With 2,000 chess masters from 180 counties, FIDE’s biennial chess tournament, will gather teams from all over the world to compete for the best title. The Olympiad, scheduled for September 1-14, will take place in the Crystal Hall, once hosting Eurovision Song Contest in 2012.

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

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