(MENAFN- AzerNews)
By Laman Ismayilova
World-famous chess players have gathered in Azerbaijan's
historical city to take part in Shusha Chess - 2022, Azernews
reports.
The international chess tournament was co-organized by the
Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation
(ACF) as well as the Shusha City State Reserve to celebrate the
190th anniversary of poetess Xurshidbanu Natavan.
A great literary figure, Xurshidbanu Natavan, the daughter of
Mehdi Gulu-xan, the last ruler of the Karabakh xanate, was good at
chess.
In 1858, the poetess met with French writer Alexander Dumas. The
French novelist, who played chess with Natavan, was fascinated by
how the poetess brilliantly beat him in the chess game.
As an honored guest at Natavan's family home, Alexander Dumas
was given a chess set.
The chess game between the Azerbaijani poetess and the French
writer was recreated at the opening ceremony by the talented
actors.
Babashah Ganjaliyev, a chess master at the Shusha Chess School,
was presented with a gift plaque for his service to the development
of chess. The closing ceremony was no less impressive. The
three-time European chess champion, Shahriyar Mammadyarov
(Azerbaijan), and Meri Arabidze (Georgia) were awarded trophies
specially made by the Georgian Zarabkhana Jewelry House.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the winner of the Shusha
Chess- 2022 among men, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, stressed that he
dedicated his victory to the Azerbaijani martyrs.
'Participating in the competition in Shusha was a special
feeling. It is an honor to win the first chess competition in this
city. I do not hide that I wish to be the first in this chess
competition. But after the rapid race, fighting in the blitz was
quite difficult. I am happy that I won first place. I will never
forget that I won the first chess competition in Shusha,' said
Mammadyarov.
'Shusha has a special place in our hearts. Our family also
suffered losses in the battles for this city. Farid and Gubad
reached the peak of martyrdom. One was my close friend and the
other was my wife's cousin. Both of them were martyred on November
7, 2020, right here in Shusha. I want to dedicate this victory to
them. May God has mercy on all our martyrs,' the chess player
concluded.
The head of the Sports Department, Elnur Mammadov, said that
Shusha's name will always be on the world chess map. He also
presented a souvenir to the Shusha City State Reserve, which
supported the competition.
President of the Azerbaijani Chess Federation, Vice-President of
FIDE Mahir Mammadov expressed his gratitude to the participants in
the Shusha Chess - 2022 and thanked Special Representative of
Azerbaijani President for Shusha District Aydin Karimov, the
Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Shusha City State Reserve as well
as all the employees of the Karabakh Hotel where the tournament was
held.
'The high interest in the Shusha tournament further increased
the attention to it. I express my gratitude to the sponsors of the
competition, SOCAR, International Bank of Azerbaijan (ABB), and
Azerxalca OJSC,' he added.
After the speech, Elnur Mammadov presented a commemorative gift
to Nona Gaprindashvili (Georgia), the five-time world and 11-time
Olympic champion.
Deputy Chairman of the Azerkhalcha OJSC Board of Directors
Jeyhun Alibayov donated Shusha Chess 2022 carpet, which was knitted
by participants, guests, and officials during the tournament, as a
souvenir to the Azerbaijan Chess Federation.
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