Azerbaijan Championship 2025: Mamedov Outplays Mamedyarov in a Strategic Masterclass

Published on: February 17, 2025

Round 5 of the Azerbaijan Championship 2025 saw a thrilling clash between Rauf Mamedov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, two of the country’s strongest grandmasters. While Mamedyarov is well known for his aggressive and tactical play, Mamedov displayed excellent positional understanding, precise pawn play, and dominant endgame technique to secure a convincing victory.

Opening: Philidor Defense – Hanham Variation

The game revolved around the Philidor Defense, where Mamedov systematically dismantled Black’s setup, making use of strong central control and powerful pawn breaks to take full control of the position.

• 4...c6 – Mamedyarov reinforces d5, a typical Philidor idea.
• 8. a4 – White expands on the queenside, gaining additional space.
• 10. Bf4 – Mamedov applies immediate pressure on d6, targeting Black’s central weakness.

Middlegame: Mamedov Gains Space and Control

At this stage, Mamedov gradually took over the game, using strong positional play and well-timed pawn breaks to limit Mamedyarov’s activity.

• 12. f4 – White gains further space on the kingside, restricting Black’s minor pieces.
• 16. Nf3 – Strong knight repositioning to dominate the board.
• 18. g4 – White continues to put pressure on the kingside.
• 22. Be6 – A critical moment where White sacrifices a pawn for activity.

Endgame: Mamedov’s Precision Secures Victory

As the game entered the endgame phase, Mamedov’s superior understanding of piece coordination ensured a smooth conversion of his advantage.

• 29. Rd8+ – White activates his rook, forcing Black into a passive position.
• 32. Nxa5 – Mamedov wins a critical pawn, gaining a strong passed a-pawn.
• 41. c5 – White’s final breakthrough, securing the win.
• 46. Ne6+ – A tactical finish, forcing resignation.

Play through the Game

Key Takeaways from Mamedov’s Victory

• Precise Opening Play: Mamedov played a controlled Philidor, ensuring a solid foundation.
• Brilliant Midgame Strategy: The f5 and g5 pawn breaks completely disrupted Black’s setup.
• Endgame Dominance: White’s knight vs. Black’s bishop demonstrated superior piece coordination.
• King Activity: Mamedov mobilized his king at the right moment, sealing the game.

Mamedov’s positional understanding, superior pawn play, and flawless endgame technique proved too much for Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, one of Azerbaijan’s strongest players.

This was a textbook positional victory from Mamedov, reinforcing his status as a world-class endgame technician. For another thriller, check the game between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh at the Tata Steel 2025 here. Stay tuned as we continue to analyze more critical games in the chess world.