Vasif Durarbayli is known for his dynamic and high-pressing style of play. A former World Youth (U14) and European Youth (U18) Chess Champion, he made history as the youngest player ever to represent Azerbaijan at the Chess Olympiad. Azerbaijani Chess Champion (2021, 2023) and reached the top 16 at the 2021 FIDE World Cup. As a coach, Vasif specializes in openings and dynamic play, helping students develop an aggressive and proactive approach to the game. He is also well-known for his chess blogs and streams, where he shares advanced strategies and game analysis. Vasif is the author of “2021 in 52 Games” and is recognized as both a world-class competitor and a respected mentor.

Azerbaijan Champion (2014), Texas Superfinals Champion (2021), and national team member at the 2016 Chess Olympiad — brings over 20 years of elite experience to Azeri Chess Academy. He is the author of nearly 80 chess books and a specialist in openings, tactics, positional play, endgames, and chess psychology. His coaching has helped develop both rising young talents and established Grandmasters.

FIDE Senior Trainer with over 30 years of coaching experience. He has developed numerous Azerbaijani champions, including Grandmasters Eltaj Safarli, Rufat Bagirov, Namig Guliyev, and his son, GM Ulvi Bajarani. A former Chess Olympiad participant, he is also the author of several acclaimed chess books. His coaching philosophy is personalized and results-driven — focused on identifying each student’s weak points and transforming them into competitive strengths.