Dvorkovich visited Baku for the closing of the 2026 Baku Open, using the trip to push his regional growth agenda. Nearly 900 players from 13 federations competed, with Iranian GM Movahed Sina claiming the top Grandmaster title. The FIDE President met separately with federation leaders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Spain, and Türkiye, plus European Chess Union President Zurab Azmaiparashvili. These discussions centered on upcoming international events and chess promotion projects across the South Caucasus and beyond. The Baku Open has become a flagship event for the region, drawing serious competition year after year. Dvorkovich's hands-on approach reflects FIDE's strategy of building chess infrastructure outside the traditional Western and Russian strongholds. The South Caucasus sits at a crossroads between Europe and Asia, making it valuable real estate for chess federation growth. By coupling major tournaments with direct dialogue between federation leaders, Dvorkovich signals that the federation wants sustainable development in emerging markets, not just marquee events in established capitals.
THE TAKEAWAY: FIDE is betting on the Caucasus as a growth corridor, and the Baku Open's scale shows the region has the appetite for serious chess.