I was born on September 3, 1981, in Baku, Azerbaijan — a country known worldwide as a chess powerhouse. I was introduced to chess at the age of four and trained under famous coaches, rising quickly through national and international competitions. In 2007, I earned the prestigious Grandmaster title, and in 2009, I became the Azerbaijan Men’s Champion. Today, I am one of approximately 65 active Grandmasters in the United States. There are fewer Grandmasters in the world than billionaires — out of an estimated 600 million chess players globally, holding the Grandmaster title places me in roughly the top 0.0003% worldwide.

After relocating to the United States, I founded GMChessPrep in 2013, which has since grown into one of the fastest-growing chess academies in the region. Over the course of my career, I have trained more than 11,000 students worldwide, including players who have gone on to become leading Grandmasters representing the United States and other countries.

My speaking engagements focus on strategic decision-making, high-pressure performance, risk assessment, long-term planning, and the psychology of winning. Drawing powerful parallels between chess and executive leadership, I deliver actionable insights that help organizations sharpen focus, anticipate challenges, and execute with precision. Through dynamic storytelling and real-board demonstrations, I show audiences how to think several moves ahead — not only in chess, but in business and life.

One of my most unique corporate experiences is large-scale simultaneous exhibitions designed specifically for team engagement and social bonding. In these events, I compete against 30, 50, or even 70 boards at once, while teams of 2–4 employees collaborate on each board. As I rotate from table to table making my moves, teammates analyze, debate, and decide together — creating a high-energy environment of strategy, communication, and shared problem-solving. It becomes more than a chess event; it becomes an interactive strategic experience that strengthens collaboration and collective decision-making under pressure.