Tajik chess player Mehiddin Sharifov had a successful performance at the international tournament Open Chess La Roda 2026 in Spain, achieving his first international master norm and entering the list of prize winners.
From March 31 to April 5, 2026, a major international chess tournament took place in the Spanish city of La Roda, featuring 212 chess players from 21 countries, including 9 grandmasters and 17 international masters.
“Representatives of Tajikistan demonstrated confident and competitive play, confirming the high level of the national chess school,” noted the Chess Federation of Tajikistan.
The best result among Tajik participants was shown by FIDE master Mehiddin Sharifov. He scored 7 points out of 9 possible (6 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss), demonstrated a performance rating of about 2550, and achieved his first international master (IM) norm.
In the final standings, Sharifov placed 8th, losing on tiebreaks, and significantly improved his rating by 62.6 points.
International master Jaloliddin Ilkhomi also performed confidently, finishing the tournament undefeated. He scored 6.5 points (4 wins and 5 draws) and took 14th place, increasing his rating by more than 23 points and approaching grandmaster level.
Other members of the Tajik team also showed good results. Amin Kabilov scored 6 points (6 wins and 3 losses), finishing in 31st place, with a rating change of −1.4 points. Alisher Karimov, with 5.5 points (5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses), ranked 41st, losing 4.2 rating points.
The Chess Federation of Tajikistan emphasized that the performance of Tajik chess players in La Roda further confirmed the sustainable development of chess in the country. The results achieved reflect the systematic training of athletes, accumulated international experience, and the effective work of coaches.
The tournament was officially registered for the FIDE rating and allowed for the possibility of achieving international norms. The total prize fund was 20,000 euros, which served as additional motivation for the participants.
Open Chess La Roda is traditionally considered one of the prestigious open chess platforms in Europe, attracting the strongest players from around the world.
