Azerbaijani chess player Shakriyar Mamedyarov was born on 12 April 1985 in Sumgait. His current rating is 2750 (April 2016). His highest World Ranking is 4th (January 2007). He won team World Champion title in U18 (2003), U20 (2003, 2005).

In May 2011 Mamedyarov qualified for the Candidates tournament as the nominee of the organisers where he was beaten by Boris Gelfand in the quarter finals.

Mamedyarov represented Azerbaijan in seven Chess Olympiads between 2000 and 2014. Until 2008 he did not have much success. In 2008 he placed seventh. In 2012 his team did not win any medals, but Mamedyarov won individual gold medal.

Interesting facts:

His personal trainer is his father, who was a boxer. Mamedyarov has two sisters, Zeinab and Turkan Mamedyarova, both Woman Grandmasters.

Mamedyarov has an aggressive playing style. He is known for his unusual opening variations such as the Alekhine Defence and the Budapest Gambit.