Houston, Texas, October 10, 2026. GM Vasif Durarbayli of Azerbaijan won the 1st Azeri Chess Academy Open with 6.5/9, earning the $5,000 first prize. Siddharth Singh of the United States earned an International Master (IM) norm at the six-day tournament.

Organized by Azeri Chess Academy and held at The Houston Chess Studio from October 5–10, 2026, the tournament brought together 26 players from nine chess federations, including 10 Grandmasters and five International Masters, competing in a nine-round FIDE- and USCF-rated Swiss tournament with a $13,000 guaranteed prize fund.

The event marked an important milestone for Azeri Chess Academy in its mission to create high-level competitive chess opportunities in Houston, Texas, and beyond.

GM Vasif Durarbayli Crowned Champion

GM Vasif Durarbayli (AZE) emerged victorious with 6.5 points out of 9, securing the championship title and the $5,000 first prize.

The battle for the remaining podium positions was closely contested, with IM Krzysztof Raczek (POL) and GM Liam Putnam (USA) both finishing with 6/9. Raczek secured second place on superior tie-breaks.

Main Prize Winners

🥇 1st Place — GM Vasif Durarbayli (AZE): 6.5/9 — $5,000
🥈 2nd Place — IM Krzysztof Raczek (POL): 6/9 — $2,250
🥉 3rd Place — GM Liam Putnam (USA): 6/9 — $1,750
4th Place — GM Jianchao Zhou (USA): 5.5/9 — $666.67
Additional Prize Winner — GM Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso (COL): 5.5/9 — $166.67
Additional Prize Winner — GM Gergely Kantor (HUN): 5.5/9 — $166.67

Zhou, Cardoso, and Kantor finished tied on points. Zhou secured the highest placing among them on tie-breaks and received the largest share of their main-place prizes under the tournament’s prize distribution rules.

Special Prize Winners

In addition to the main standings, the tournament recognized outstanding performances across several categories.

Best Junior — Shared Prize

IM Tanitoluwa Adewumi (USA): $500
Ethan Sheehan (USA): $500

Both players shared the Best Junior cash prize, while IM Tanitoluwa Adewumi received the Best Junior trophy based on tie-breaks.

Best Female Player

WIM Martyna Starosta (POL) — $1,000

Best Senior Player

Alejandro Allen (USA) — $1,000

Congratulations to all prize winners for their achievements!

A Major Milestone: Siddharth Singh Achieves an IM Norm

One of the most significant achievements of the tournament came from Siddharth Singh (USA), who earned an International Master (IM) norm during the competition.

An IM norm is an important step toward earning the International Master title, requiring a high-level performance against qualifying international opposition under FIDE regulations.

This accomplishment represents not only an outstanding personal achievement for Singh but also a particularly meaningful result for the inaugural Azeri Chess Academy Open.

Providing opportunities for ambitious players to compete against strong international opponents and pursue FIDE title norms was among the tournament’s central objectives.

We warmly congratulate Siddharth Singh on his achievement and wish him continued success in his chess career!

View Siddharth Singh’s tournament performance

An International Chess Event in Houston

The 1st Azeri Chess Academy Open welcomed participants from Houston, other parts of Texas, other U.S. states, and abroad.

With 10 Grandmasters, five International Masters, and players representing nine federations, the event offered an opportunity for experienced professionals and emerging talents to compete in a strong international field.

The tournament featured nine rounds of classical chess across six days, providing demanding competitive conditions and opportunities for players to test themselves against high-rated opposition.

The $13,000 guaranteed prize fund reflected Azeri Chess Academy’s commitment to supporting serious competitive chess and attracting accomplished players to Houston.

Our Sincere Gratitude to Participants and The Houston Chess Studio

Organizing the inaugural Azeri Chess Academy Open required significant preparation, coordination, and support.

First and foremost, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to every participant who took part in the tournament.

We are especially thankful to those who traveled from other cities, states, and countries to compete in Houston. Your participation, competitive spirit, and dedication to chess helped make this event possible.

We would also like to express our special appreciation to Edgar Acosta, owner of The Houston Chess Studio, for his exceptional hospitality, technical expertise, and invaluable assistance throughout the tournament.

Edgar’s contributions played an essential role in organizing and conducting the event. His welcoming environment, practical assistance, and technical knowledge helped us navigate the challenges of hosting an international chess competition.

Without Edgar’s hospitality and expertise, organizing this tournament would have been considerably more difficult. We are sincerely grateful for his generosity, professionalism, and support.

Thank you, Edgar, and thank you to everyone who contributed to making the 1st Azeri Chess Academy Open a reality!

Looking Ahead: More Competitive Chess Opportunities

The successful completion of the inaugural 1st Azeri Chess Academy Open represents an important milestone for Azeri Chess Academy.

Beyond the final standings and prize distribution, the tournament demonstrated the value of bringing strong international players together and creating opportunities for emerging talents to pursue ambitious competitive goals.

We hope to build on this experience, continue improving our tournaments, and organize more high-quality chess competitions in Houston and beyond.

Congratulations once again to GM Vasif Durarbayli, Siddharth Singh, all prize winners, and every participant!

We look forward to welcoming players to future Azeri Chess Academy events.

Final Results and Tournament Information

Tournament: 1st Azeri Chess Academy Open

Dates: October 5–10, 2026

Location: The Houston Chess Studio, 250 Patton Street, Suite H, Houston, TX 77009

Format: Nine-round Swiss, FIDE Classical and USCF Regular rated

Participants: 26 players representing nine federations

Guaranteed Prize Fund: $13,000

1st Azeri Chess Academy Open Concludes in Houston: GM Vasif Durarbayli Wins, Siddharth Singh Earns IM Norm