SILVER GUYS

The European Team Chess Championship for men held in Batumi, Georgia will be remembered by Azerbaijan's team for a silver medal. The national team, ranked fourth among the participants, stumbled just one step short of gold medal and finished in second place.

Silver that shines like gold

In the eighth round Azerbaijani players secured an important victory over the then-leading Ukrainian team with a score of 2.5:1.5 and moved into first place. To become European champions for the fourth time in history, they needed to beat Serbia in the final round and hope Ukraine would drop points. It did not work out—Azerbaijan lost to Serbia 1:3 and ultimately had to be content with silver medal.

The team earned key points in rounds six through eight, when it consecutively defeated the teams of Armenia, Hungary and Ukraine, drawing as close as possible to "gold". However, the loss in the decisive round to Serbia brought Azerbaijan the consolatory "silver".

The Azerbaijani team's roster: Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Rauf Mammadov, Eltaj Safarli, Aydin Suleymanly and Muhammed Muradly. Although the missed championship is of course regrettable, it should be noted that this is the first medal for Azerbaijani chess players at the European championships in eight years. Recall that the national team, after becoming European champion for the third time in 2017, had not been among the prize-winners since then.

Successes, records, wins and losses

Second place at the continental championship is a major achievement for Azerbaijan's men's team, which is traditionally considered one of the favourites at any prestigious tournament. After the untimely death of Vugar Hashimov the team noticeably weakened. In addition, World Cup winner Teymur Rajabov no longer plays as part of the team and now works as captain-coach. The leaders remain Shahriyar Mammadyarov and the reigning national champion Rauf Mammadov. That is why the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACF) took a risk by pursuing a course of squad rejuvenation. Young stars of domestic chess were brought in—Aydin Suleymanly and Muhammed Muradly. The union of experience and youth allowed the team to finish the tournament in second place and look to the future with optimism.

Silver became Teymur Radjabov's first success as team captain. A man of wide experience and a three-time European champion, Rajabov managed to create a friendly atmosphere within the squad while repeatedly offering valuable advice on opening preparation. He was responsible for selecting the lineup before each round.

Special mention is due to the team's leader—Shahriyar Mammadyarov. Having represented the national team for 25 years, he set a record for the number of appearances and played in all nine rounds, once again proving his leadership. Unfortunately, in the final round, possibly due to fatigue, a lapse in concentration cost him the game.

National champion Rauf Mammadov, who played on board two, was not always consistent, but it was his victory in the eighth round that provided the decisive point in the match against Ukraine.

Eltaj Safarli, playing on board three, scored five points in seven games and won an individual gold medal. For him this European Championship was a kind of return to major chess. After competing in smaller tournaments in Germany, Safarli proved he deserved a place on the national team and made a huge contribution to winning "silver".

Young team member Aydin Suleymanly showed stable play: the loss in the final round was his only defeat. Thanks to a reliable, balanced style he scored important points for the team, finishing the tournament with five points out of nine. Muhammed Muradly, who served as a reserve, drew four games. To achieve higher results he will need to continue working on his game.

Azerbaijan's women's team, which returned from the previous two European championships with bronze and silver, performed less successfully this time. The absence of the team's leader, Gunay Mammadzade, was inevitably felt. Azerbaijani women finished the championship in 10th place. At the same time Gulnar Mammadova, who played on board four, finished third on individual results: she scored six wins in eight games and received a bronze medal at the closing ceremony.

We fought to the end

Men's team leader Shahriyar Mammadyarov told journalists that in terms of total medals Azerbaijan ranks first in Europe: "We have won more titles than anyone else—we became champions three times, and repeatedly took silver and bronze. By total number of medals we are first on the continent. We fought for first place until the very end. There were chances for 'gold', but Ukraine played incredible chess—they beat everyone. Only we beat them. We defeated the champion team itself, and that gives confidence. Thanks to my teammates, the federation and everyone who supported us—the result is truly outstanding."

Summing up the team's performance in Batumi, ACF president Mahir Mammadov said: "Before the last round our team remained the only side without a single loss and was naturally leading. Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve the necessary result. In the final round games start earlier, players tire and the number of mistakes increases. In the decisive game Shahriyar Mammadyarov lost concentration for literally a minute—a consequence of fatigue. Let us not forget that he is the only player from both teams (men's and women's) who played all nine rounds, which confirms his leadership qualities. Second place at the European Championship is an excellent result. Of course, 'gold' would have been better. Azerbaijan has been European champion three times, and the hope to become four-time champions remains.

As for the women's team, our girls, who in the previous two European championships earned bronze and silver, this time did not make the prize list. Conclusions must be drawn and we must work even harder."