Player Profile: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Full Name: Shahriyar Hamid oglu Mammadyarov

Peak FIDE Rating: 2820 (September 2018)

Active Since: 2003 

Federation: Azerbaijan 

Player Description:

If chess had a rockstar circuit, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov would be its electric guitarist, who is unpredictable, high-energy, and always ready to improvise. 

Hailing from the chess-loving nation of Azerbaijan, where kings are revered both on the board and in the palaces, Mamedyarov has made a name for himself by turning chaos into calculation.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is one of Azerbaijan’s most celebrated chess grandmasters, widely admired for his bold and uncompromising style.

He thrives in sharp, tactical positions and often favors unpredictable openings, catching even the strongest players by surprise. Mamedyarov has proven his strength in all formats of the game. He won big events like the Biel Chess Festival, where he got the better of current World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen.

As part of the Azerbaijani national team, he earned a gold medal at the 2012 Chess Olympiad and helped win several European Team Championships. With his bold style and strong performances, he continues to be a key figure in modern chess and a national hero in Azerbaijan.

Career Scorecard:

World Championship Cycle Appearances: 

Candidates' Tournaments - 2011, 2014, 2018 (Runner Up), 2021 (tied for 2nd Place) 

FIDE Grand Prix - 2012/13, 2014/15, 2017, 2019, 2022

Chess World Cup - 2021 

National Championships:

Azerbaijan Chess Championship - 2001, 2002 

Olympiad Medals:

Chess Olympiads

Represented Azerbaijan - 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018

Chess Olympiad 2012 → Gold Medal | Individual (board 3) 

European Team Chess Championship - 

Gold Medals → 2009, 2013, 2017 

Bronze Medals → 2007, 2011

Major Tournaments Won:

1. World Junior Championship - 2003

2. Under-18 World Championship - 2003

3. World Junior Championship - 2005

4. World Rapid Chess Championship Khanty-Mansiysk - 2013

5. Beijing FIDE Grand Prix 2012/13 - 2013

6. FIDE Grand Prix, 1st - 2017

Memorable Games: 

Mamedyarov vs. Judit Polgar, Essent (Hoogeveen) 2006:

Mamedyarov used the Trompowsky Attack to defeat Polgar (the strongest female player in history) in only 11 moves, a famously swift tactical victory.

Mamedyarov vs. Magnus Carlsen, Biel 2018:

A crucial penultimate-round win against reigning World Champion Carlsen that secured Mamedyarov the Biel tournament title and marked one of his high-profile triumphs over a World Champion.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Anish Giri, FIDE Grand Prix, Beijing 2013:

In a memorable game from the 2013 Beijing Tournament, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov faced off against Anish Giri in a battle that featured one of the most adventurous knight maneuvers you'll see. Mamedyarov's knight went on an epic journey across the board, setting the stage for a creative and dynamic middle game.