The International Festival Baku Open 2025 is an international chess tournament that was first introduced in the 1920s. The tournament started in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. The festival continues to grow in prestige, with the 2025 season starting from 27 April to 6 May 2025. The chess festival will take place at the Baku Crystal Hall in Azerbaijan, jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation.
This season will also feature a number of exciting side events that will add to the overall experience of the participants and spectators. There will be a simultaneous exhibition by Viswanathan Anand on 27 April, where some of the most promising young talents will get to play against the chess legend, Anand.
In another special event scheduled on 28 and 29 April, Anand will face Rauf Mamedov in a rapid match, which promises intense competition and strategic play. On 30 April, Viswanathan Anand will face Rauf again in a blitz match, which features quick thinking and fast-paced moves. With that being said, let’s take a look at the format of the International Festival Baku Open 2025.
Format of the International Festival Baku Open 2025
The International Festival Baku Open 2025 will feature three main tournaments: Tournament A, Tournament B, and Tournament C. Each of these tournaments will follow a 9-round Swiss format with a classical time control.
The Tournament A is open to players with a FIDE ELO rating of above 2250 for men and 2100 for women. The winner will receive $12,000 from the total prize pool. Tournament B will also be open for players with the same FIDE ELO rating, while Tournament C will feature young players born in 2013 or earlier.
Moreover, the first 10 registered players with a FIDE ELO above 2650 for men and 2450 for women will receive a full board accommodation at the official hotel, Ibis Hotel.
International Festival Baku Open 2025: Prize Money Breakdown
Tournament A
| Position | Prize Money |
| 1st Place | $12,000 |
| 2nd Place | $8,000 |
| 3rd Place | $6,000 |
| 4th Place | $3,000 |
| 5th Place | $2,500 |
| 6th Place | $2,000 |
| 7th Place | $1,600 |
| 8th Place | $1,400 |
| 9th Place | $1,200 |
| 10th Place | $1,000 |
| 11th Place | $800 |
| 12th Place | $500 |
| 13th to 20th Place | $200 to $300 each |
Tournament B
| Position | Prize Money |
| 1st Place | $1,500 |
| 2nd Place | $1,000 |
| 3rd Place | $700 |
| 4th Place | $500 |
| 5th Place | $400 |
| 6th Place | $300 |
| 7th Place | $250 |
| 8th Place | $250 |
| 9th Place | $200 |
| 10th Place | $200 |
| 11th to 16th Place | $100 to $150 each |
Best Female Players in Tournaments A and B
| Position | Tournament A | Tournament B |
| 1st Place | $1,500 | $300 |
| 2nd Place | $1,200 | $200 |
| 3rd Place | $1,000 | $150 |
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