[1] In February 2018, Balajayeva won the Azerbaijani women's championship edging out Gunay Mammadzada on tie-break score.

Balajayeva played on board two of the 3rd Azerbaijani team in the women's section.

The team finished the tournament on 30th place, while Balajayeva scored 7½ points out of 11 games.

At the 43rd Chess Olympiad, which took place in Batumi, Georgia in September–October 2018, Balajayeva represented Azerbaijan in the women's event playing board three and scored 7 points out of 9.

Her performance rating was 2522, which earned her the gold medal on board 3.