Bagirov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan on August 16, 1936. In 1978, he was awarded the title of International Grandmaster (GM) by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) for his skilled play in significant international tournaments. As a chess player, Bagirov was renowned for his expertise in the endgame. He was also a chess coach and author, having written numerous books on chess strategy and tactics.
Bagirov achieved numerous tournament wins throughout his career, including at Novi Sad in 1965, Reykjavík in 1972, and Baku in 1976. He represented the USSR in the European Team Championship twice, in 1970 and 1977, and the Chess Olympiad in 1978, each time performing proficiently. Bagirov also achieved success in seniors' championships later in his career, notably winning the World Senior Championship in 1998.