Total Chess: Hayk Martirosyan drew 1–1 against Azerbaijani Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

In the first round of the group stage of the "Total Chess World Championship Tour Pilot 2026" tournament, currently taking place in Budapest, Hungary, Armenia’s leading grandmaster Haik Martirosyan drew his match 1–1 against Azerbaijan’s top grandmaster, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

In the first game of the round, Haik, playing with the white pieces, suffered a defeat; however, in the return game, playing with the black pieces, he secured a victory over the Azerbaijani grandmaster.

Haik Martirosyan is in Group C, alongside Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Anish Giri, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Abhimanyu Mishra.

It should be noted that in the blitz chess tournament held on November 10, Hayk secured a victory against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

Levon Aronian (USA), the former leader of the Armenian national team, finished his match against Dutch Grandmaster Jorden van Foreest with a 1–1 score.

In the first game, playing with the black pieces, Levon gained the upper hand; however, in the second game, playing with the white pieces, he suffered a defeat.

Levon Aronian is in Group A, which also includes Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alireza Firouzja, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Jorden van Foreest, and Andrew Hong.

The first game of the second round will begin on November 12 at 18:00 (Armenia time).