Baku to host chess tournament to mark National Press Day

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation will organise a chess tournament on July 21, Azernews reports.

The tournament is timed to National Press Day, which marks its 149th anniversary.

In accordance with the regulations, each game will be given 10 minutes, with an additional five seconds for each move made. The winners of the first three places after seven rounds will be awarded diplomas, cash prizes, and gifts.

Azerbaijan National Press Day is celebrated annually on July 22, commemorating the first release of the "Akinchi" (Ploughman) newspaper.

Published for the first time in 1875 (July 22) by Hasan bey Zardabi, "Akinchi" gave a powerful impetus to the formation of a national press.

With its progressive mission, the newspaper fought against injustice and ignorance.

The newspaper covered a wide range of scientific, educational, and cultural topics.

"Akinchi" harshly criticised superstition and backwardness.

Over those years, Hasan bey Zardabi had to face many challenges. During the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Tsar’s censorship prohibited touching upon political issues in the newspaper.

Since 1880, this newspaper has been published under the name Ziyayi-Qafqaziyye".

Despite its closing in 1884, "Akinchi" paved the way to other national publications.

In the following years, newspapers like Shergi-Rus (1903-1905), Hayat (1905-1906), Molla Nasreddin (1906-1931), Fuyuzat (1906-1907), Shalale (1913-1914), Igbal (1912-1915), Dirilik (1914-1916), Achiq Soz (1915-1918) continued the noble goal of the "Akinchi" newspaper.