Interview with IM Khagan Ahmad - World Youth Under-16 Chess Champion 2026

1) Dear Khagan, warmest congratulations on winning the World Youth Under-16 Chess Championship 2026 in Montesilvano! You finished with 9.5 out of 11 points, ahead of a strong field of 155 players from 70 countries. What went through your mind when you secured the title in the final round?
KA: Thank you. I was extremely happy and proud of myself.

2) The decisive game against Gleb Scheglov was reportedly the longest and one of the most dramatic of the entire tournament. At one point you were down material, facing his queen and knight with only two rooks and a knight of your own. How did you manage to turn that game around?
KA: In the time trouble I was more focused and didn’t panic, and Gleb was very nervous and eventually that played a crucial role in the game.

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-youth-chess-championships-2026-o16/round-11/sb4t4qtW/f14nYu2n

3) The Open Under-16 section saw the lead change hands constantly throughout the event until round 8, from when on you were leading the field. How difficult was it to stay focused mentally with the standings shifting from round to round?
KA: I think in swiss tournaments standings matter only in last 2-3 rounds, so I didn’t even check who is in first place, and that probably brought extra confidence to me.

4) You arrived in Montesilvano already as the reigning European Under-14 Champion. Did that title bring extra pressure or extra confidence going into the World Championship?
KA: I don’t think at the World Chess Championship it matters, since I play not against Europeans but also with Asians, Africans, Americans, but of course in the crucial games I was more confident since I already played games like this.

5) Looking back at your eleven games, was there a moment besides the final round where you felt the tournament could have gone a completely different way?
KA: In the third round against Oleksii Karvatskii I had a lost position and managed to drew only because my opponent wasn’t careful, so if I would lost there, I am not sure would I finish even in the podium.

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-youth-chess-championships-2026-o16/round-3/tiYtxL3C/AffYCkmA

6) How did you prepare for this championship, both in terms of chess and logistics – such a long, demanding event over almost two weeks?
KA: The Azerbaijan Chess Federation did all logistics, so thanks to them. I did work as usually 5-6 hours a day which I think is enough for everyone at any level.

7) Azerbaijan had a very strong showing at this championship, winning two gold medals and receiving the Best Federation Trophy. What is it like to be part of such a successful national team, and how much does the Azerbaijani chess federation support young players like yourself?
KA: I am very happy to be the part of this team. The Azerbaijani Chess Federation supports me very well, covering expenses to the tournaments, doing camps, so I am very happy that I get this support.

Khagan Ahmad caused a sensation at the FIDE 2025 Team Blitz World Championship when he defeated Hikaru Nakamura with Black (Photo: FIDE, Rafal Oleksiewicz).

8) Azerbaijan has produced many strong players over the years. Do you feel inspired by that tradition, or does it add pressure to live up to it?
KA: I think it motivates more than adding pressure.

9) Is this World Championship title your biggest achievement so far, or are there earlier results – such as your European Championship win – that you are equally proud of?
KA: The World Championship means far more to me than the European championship, I already became European Champion twice, but kept failing short at the World Championship, and now I finally managed to win that tournament as well.

10) What would you say is your biggest strength on the chessboard, and where do you still see room for improvement?
KA: I really think I am very good at game understanding, and my weakest place is probably tactics.

11) Which chess players, past or present, do you admire the most?
KA: Bobby Fischer

12) Is there a famous chess game that made a lasting impression on you while you were growing up?
KA: Fischer-Spassky 1972, Game 6.

https://lichess.org/study/pHxGMWfb/ibxdV0jw

13) What do you enjoy outside of chess?
KA: I enjoy playing football with my friends and playing video games.

14) Finally, what advice would you give our readers who want to make serious improvements in ...
Opening: is not an important part of the game, especially with White, just play what you know, or if you don’t want to spend your time into learning openings, just play the London system.
Middlegame: Try to solve puzzles, studies, and the most important part, improve your positional play.

Note that this article was first published originally in German in the August 2026 issue of the German chess magazine Rochade Europa).