Idris Namazov — two-time champion: commanding victory in the 61st League
The 61st League, held from December 2025 to February 2026, became one of the longest-running stages in recent times — the tournament brought together dozens of players across multiple divisions and groups. Idris Namazov defended his champion status and won the title for the second consecutive time.
Throughout this stage, Idris displayed consistent and controlled play in most matches:
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Lamiya Huseyn — 6:0, 6:3
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Zaur Mammadzada — 6:4, 6:4
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Zaur Bayramov — 7:6, 6:2
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Nizam Gulamov — 7:5, 6:2
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Aurelien Prost — 6:2, 6:0
The key match was against Mohamed Helmi — the only three-set match for Namazov, ending with a 6:7, 7:6, 6:3 victory.
The game was extremely intense: losing the first set in a tie-break, winning the second in a tie-break, and confidently closing the decisive set. This win proved crucial in the battle for the championship.
Winning the 61st League marked Idris’s second consecutive title (60th and 61st Leagues). Over the three-month period, his stable performance demonstrated both skill and mental resilience.
Despite fierce competition, Namazov maintained his dominance in all matches and avoided major mistakes.
The 61st League included players from Group 1 to Group 5, totaling up to 120 participants, and featured over one hundred matches. The total prize fund for the stage was 2000 AZN, with 500 AZN awarded to the champion.
After the season, Idris Namazov commented:
“What could be better than being the league champion? I think winning it a second time.”
The 61st League has concluded. Now the big question remains: can anyone stop the champion’s winning streak in the next stage?