Baku, May 2, AZERTAC The first round of Nakhchivan-2019 International Chess Festival marking the 96th anniversary of Azerbaijan`s national leader Heydar Aliyev has ended.Belarusian GM Vladislav Kovalev defeated Russian FIDE master Alexander Demianjuk, while Azerbaijan`s GM Nijat Abasov beat his fellow countryman FIDE master Aydin Suleymanli in the first round of the tournament. Another Azerbaijani GM Eltaj Safarli routed his fellow countryman Nail Bashirli, Belarusian GM Aleksej Aleksandrov defeated Indian FIDE master Mithil Ajgaonkar and Latvian GM Nikita Meshkovs beat Azerbaijani GM Sarhan Guliyev.Ukrainian GM Eldar Qasanov was held to a draw by Turkish FIDE master Amirhan Tarlabasi. Greek GM Vasilios Kotronias also made a successful start to the tournament after beating Indian FIDE master Nikhil Dixit.Nakhchivan-2019 International Chess Festival brings together 356 chess players from 14 countries.