The quest for the national crown intensifies as Azerbaijan’s elite chess players enter the final stages of the championship.

According to Offsideplus.az, the semifinal matches kick off today.

Semifinal Pairings:

Men’s Section:

• Shahriyar Mamedyarov vs. Aydin Suleymanli

• Read Samadov vs. Mahammad Muradli

Women’s Section:

• Ulviyya Fataliyeva vs. Gulnar Mammadova

Turkan Mamedyarova vs. Ayhan Allahverdiyeva

The total prize fund for the tournament stands at 92,000 AZN. The distribution is as follows:

Men’s Championship: 62,000 AZN

Women’s Championship: 30,000 AZN

The competition is scheduled to conclude on February 22nd, when the new national champions will be crowned.