MARGAO
International Master Audi Ameya secured a podium finish in Azerbaijan, finishing joint first and second on tie-break at the recently concluded Gudrat Ismayilov Memorial IM Tournament.
Ameya produced a strong performance, scoring six points from nine rounds with four wins and four draws. He defeated GM Kirill Stupak, Leonid Varankin, Chingiz Rzayev and CM Mushfig Asgarov, while drawing against Ramtin Ilkhanipour, FM Umid Aslanov, FM Mahammad Baghirov and FM Ahmet Efekan Alaz.
Fellow Indian IM Md Imran also scored six points and won the championship on tie-break, while FM Ahmet Efekan Alaz of Turkey finished third with 5.5 points.
Ameya followed that performance with another impressive showing at the Guba Open 2026, where he finished joint fifth and eighth overall on tie-break.
He scored six points from nine rounds, registering five wins and two draws. Among his notable results was a victory over IM Md Imran, while he drew against FM Miguel Ruiz Buendia of Spain and FM Tunar Davudov of Azerbaijan.
GM Misratdin Iskandarov and IM Vugar Manafov, both of Azerbaijan, topped the Guba Open standings with seven points each. Iskandarov took first place on tie-break, with Manafov finishing runner-up, while GM Mikhail Mozharov was third with 6.5 points.
The Guba Open 2026 featured 76 players from 11 federations, including 34 titled players.
