Masters Division Underway with 170 Contenders
The Masters division of the 13th Merit Open 2026 has officially entered competitive action with a field of 170 players. The opening round featured 85 completed matches, while 43 players advanced directly to the next stage by virtue of a bye.
As the flagship category of the Merit Open, the Masters division brings together world-class competitors vying for championship honors and a deep run into the final stages.
Iranian contenders delivered an impressive showing throughout the opening round, with multiple players securing vital victories to push forward in the bracket.
Shahin Nejat and Iranian Contenders Advance
One of the headline results for Iran in Round 1 came from Shahin Nejat, who defeated Payam Homayoun to launch his tournament campaign in commanding fashion.
Amir Golgolab also emerged victorious against Ismail Kurdoglu. Mojtaba Nirooei dispatched Ruslan Meleshko, while Mehdi Rokh defeated Thomas Myhr.
In other matches, Bahman Vahid triumphed over Linda Wallin, and Afshin Omidi overcame Alexey Chanturidze. Omid Badiei, Amir Eshraghi, and Jalil Khalili were among the other Iranian contenders who successfully navigated Round 1 with victories.
List of Iranian Round 1 Victories
The recorded results for Iranian competitors in Round 1 of the Masters division are as follows:
Shahin Nejat defeated Payam Homayoun.
Amir Golgolab defeated Ismail Kurdoglu.
Mojtaba Nirooei defeated Ruslan Meleshko.
Mehdi Rokh defeated Thomas Myhr.
Bahman Vahid defeated Linda Wallin.
Afshin Omidi defeated Alexey Chanturidze.
Omid Badiei defeated Thomas Deitler.
Amir Eshraghi defeated Rabih Adnan.
Jalil Khalili defeated Hakan Sari.
Masoud Zehabkar Aghdam defeated Dagfinn Snarheim.
Behzad Ahmadi defeated Ali Aldaftari.
Mohammad Aghaei defeated Aykut Keskin.
This list reflects the verified completed fixtures recorded in the tournament draw.
Notable Contenders Holding Round 1 Byes
Alongside the completed matches, several prominent backgammon figures received a bye in Round 1, advancing directly to the subsequent stage without contesting a fixture.
Key players receiving byes include:
Ibrahim Karaca
Juergen Orlowski
Nodar Gagua
Amirhossein Motarjem
Amanj Khandani
Amin Shahvalizadeh
Milad Momeni
Hamidreza Ardalani
Yousef Abdollahnezhad
Shahram Ala
Hamed Azimpour
Rambiz Khalili Yazdi
Advancing via a bye indicates moving forward through tournament draw seeding rather than a contested match win.
Mochy and International Headliners
The Round 1 results also featured several premier international stars.
Markus Reinhard defeated Najib Kawkab, while Serkan Koc secured a win against Mats Carlsson.
Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, one of the sport's all-time greats, began his campaign on a high note by defeating Ercan Nayir.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim Karaca, Juergen Orlowski, and Nodar Gagua sat out the opening round with byes, advancing directly to the next stage.
Iranian Contingent Outlook in the Masters Draw
With Round 1 in the books, the focus of Iranian backgammon enthusiasts shifts toward how national representatives fare in subsequent rounds.
Early victories by Shahin Nejat, Amir Golgolab, Mojtaba Nirooei, and Mehdi Rokh have provided strong initial momentum. Concurrently, players including Amirhossein Motarjem, Amanj Khandani, Amin Shahvalizadeh, and Milad Momeni enter the fray fresh off opening byes.
As the bracket tightens in the upcoming rounds, the path to the championship stage will grow increasingly demanding for every contender aiming to maintain their winning run.
Live Masters Tournament Bracket: Merit Open 2026
To view the full tournament bracket, upcoming match schedules, and live scoring updates, visit the official Masters tournament page on the GG Arena platform:
View Masters Bracket:
https://ggarena.app/tournament/cmvtw7zm70001wyqoi7k7mbj6
Summary
Round 1 of the Merit Open 2026 Masters tournament wrapped up with 170 contenders and 85 completed fixtures. Iranian competitors produced an encouraging opening campaign, with 12 players securing victories against their opponents.
Led by Shahin Nejat, Amir Golgolab, Mojtaba Nirooei, Mehdi Rokh, and Bahman Vahid, the victorious Iranian contingent safely preserved their position in the winners' bracket.
Masters action will intensify in the coming days as contenders battle toward the final stages of the 13th Merit Open.