A chess tournament dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) has been held in San Diego, California, Azertac reported.

Initiated and supported by the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles in partnership with San Diego-Baku Friendship Association, and held by the San Diego Chess Club, the tournament was called Baku Open Chess Tournament. The tournament is planned to be held yearly on the eve of Azerbaijan's Republic Day.

The San Diego Chess Club is one of the largest chess clubs in the United States.

The four-round tournament saw the competition of 50 players from different age categories in six sections. In the end, the winners of each section were awarded with certificates of achievement and gifts by the Consulate General of Azerbaijan.

The chess players were informed about Azerbaijan’s history of independence, noting that the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, established on May 28, 1918, and was the first secular democratic Republic in the Muslim world. “This Republic enacted many progressive reforms during its short existence (1918-20), like granting voting rights to women in 1919 for the first time among Muslim nations.” The audience was also informed about Azerbaijan's remarkable chess history and the current development of this sport in the country. Azerbaijan was described as one of the strongest chess nations in the world.