From May 18 to June 2, the national chess team of Turkmenistan is taking part in an intensive training camp in the Kazakh city of Kokshetau. At the invitation of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the team is training at the modern Chess House facility, where excellent conditions have been created for both preparation and recovery.

The main objective of the camp is to prepare Turkmen grandmasters for the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will be held in September in Samarkand. The training sessions are being conducted under the guidance of experienced international grandmaster Alexander Rakhmanov.

According to Mergen Kakabayev, Secretary General of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, the training schedule is highly intensive, with players practicing for six to seven hours a day. The coach is helping the team master the subtleties of positional chess, develop sound strategic thinking, and strengthen the psychological aspects of team competition. After the team returns to Ashgabat, the cooperation will continue through additional online training sessions.

Immediately after the camp concludes, from June 3 to June 11, Turkmen chess players will travel to Aktobe to compete in the major international tournament, the Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial – Aktobe Open 2026.

The competition will bring together players from 21 countries, including 23 grandmasters. With a total prize fund of 100,000 US dollars, the tournament is expected to feature a very high level of competition and intense battles on the chessboard.

ORIENT