Allayar Shirliev wins Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival Open A tournament

Turkmen chess player Allayar Shirliev won the Open A tournament at the 32nd International Chess Festival in Abu Dhabi, held from August 15 to August 24, 2026. Shirliev, a candidate master born in Ashgabat, secured first place with a score of eight out of nine possible points.

Competing in the category for players with a FIDE rating of 2299 and below, Shirliev entered the tournament with a classical rating of 2184. His performance is expected to increase his rating by approximately 40 points. He finished ahead of International Masters Bashir Eiti of Syria and Richilieu III Salcedo of the Philippines, who both finished with 7.5 points.

The festival, organized by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club & Mind Games, is one of the largest chess events in the region. In a separate category, Uzbek grandmaster Jakhongir Vakhidov won the masters tournament for players rated 2,300 and above.