Translated with AI
From March 31 to April 5, 2026, a major international chess tournament was held in La Roda, Spain. 212 players from 21 countries participated, including 9 grandmasters and 17 international masters. Representatives from Tajikistan demonstrated confident and competitive play, confirming the growing level of the national chess school. This was reported by the press service of the Tajikistan Chess Federation.
FIDE Master Mehriddin Sharifov was the tournament's hero. Scoring 7 points out of a possible 9, including 6 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, he demonstrated a high level of play with a performance rating of approximately 2550 and earned his first International Master norm. Sharifov finished the competition in 8th place, sharing the top spots and losing on tiebreakers. He also significantly increased his rating by 62.6 points, marking a significant step toward earning the international title.
International Master Jaloliddin Ilkhomi also demonstrated a confident performance, completing the tournament without a single defeat. He earned 6.5 points, including 4 wins and 5 draws, placing him in 14th place in the final standings. Following the tournament, he significantly improved his rating, gaining over 23 points and approaching the grandmaster level.
Other national representatives also showed impressive results. Amin Kabilov scored 6 points, winning 6 matches and losing 3, and took 31st place, with his rating dropping by -1.4 points. Alisher Karimov, with 5.5 points (5 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses), placed 41st, with a rating of -4.2 points.
The performance of Tajik chess players in La Roda was further evidence of the progressive development of chess in the country. These results were achieved thanks to systematic training, accumulated international experience, and the effective work of the coaching staff.
