A chess tournament dedicated to the memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev was organized in Washington, D.C.
The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States, in cooperation with the US-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation, organized a chess tournament in Washington, D.C., bringing together representatives of the U.S. government, members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations, as well as young chess players.
The tournament was dedicated to the anniversary of the birth of National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Following seven rounds of competition, Oladapo Olutola Adu claimed first place, while Greg D’Elia finished second and Harrison Baker secured third place.
An official closing ceremony was held following the tournament. Speaking at the event, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the United States, Khazar Ibrahim, noted that the tournament was not about victory or defeat, but rather an occasion to honor the cherished memory of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and celebrate the friendship and strong partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States.
The Ambassador emphasized that “the venue hosting the tournament was in fact inaugurated by Heydar Aliyev himself. The National Leader was truly the founder of U.S.-Azerbaijan relations. He had a great interest in chess, and thanks to his attention and support, Azerbaijan produced numerous chess champions. We always honor the memory of Heydar Aliyev with deep respect,” he said.
Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim also thanked all guests and participants for taking part in the tournament. Certificates and commemorative gifts were later presented to the participants.
At the conclusion of the event, Jonathan Askonas, Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of State and a participant in the tournament, was presented with a special chess-themed gift prepared by the Azerbaijan Chess Federation in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Jonathan Askonas praised the high level of organization of the competition and described the event as an important platform for celebrating the historic ties and growing partnership between Azerbaijan and the United States.
