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Almost 300 young chess players, who have gathered in Ashgabat from all regions of the country, are fighting at the board in the fight for the title of national champion. National championships are held in three age categories - up to 8, 10 and 12 years, separately among boys and girls.

Coincidentally, the number of boys in the youngest category up to 8 years old is 64, that is, the number of cells on the chessboard. In this category, after 6 rounds, the sole leader is Maksat Avlyakuliyev from the Lebap region, who has not lost a single point yet, i.e. having 6 points out of 6 possible. He is being chased by a group of 6 players who have 5 points in their piggy bank.

But for girls up to 8 years old, of whom 28 are participating, Dunya Ruslanova from the Lebap region missed the sole leadership and so far with 5 points out of 6 possible shares the first three places with Mukhammetberdieva (Ahal) and Sevara Atajanova (Lebap).

The largest category was a group of boys under the age of 10, where 83 young chess players participate. After 6 rounds, Alyhan Batyrov from Mary Velayat took the lead with one hundred percent result. Osman Hamrakuliyev from Ashgabat is half a point behind him. They will match each other tomorrow in the 7th round.

Pervana Serdarova from Ashgabat still "rules the score" in the category up to 10 years. With 6 points out of 6 possible, she has already managed to defeat her closest pursuers – Aya Ovlyakuliyeva and Lachyn Achyldiyeva (both from Lebap), who now share 2-3 places with 5 points. In total, 36 girls were declared in this group.

Perhaps the most exciting battles take place behind the boards in the category of 12-year-olds. A "peloton" of five leaders has formed in this group, each of whom has already managed to lose one point, including Rauf Yusupov, who is considered the favorite of Mary, who has already become the national champion in the under-8 category in 2020 and managed to participate in the World Championship in Batumi (Georgia) in 2022.

Other leaders include Ali Ahmedov (Ashgabat), Alibek Azizov (Lebap), Emir Amanmuhammedov and Ahmet Artykov (both Mary). In total, 51 participants play in this category.

Nebahat Muradova, a representative of the Lebap region, took the lead among girls under 12 with 5.5 points. Her tomorrow's opponent Nurana Jumaniyazova (also from Lebap), who is in second place, has 5 points. And Gulperi Tagiyeva from the Balkan region closes the top three with 4.5 points.

Two-thirds of the tournament distance has already been completed and we can say that on Thursday the participants will reach the finish line. In total, young chess players will play 9 games each. The tournament is held according to the Swiss system and will end on Friday.

For the first time in the chess history of Turkmenistan, the FIDE international rating is calculated at the tournament of such young players, which helps to raise the motivation of young athletes.

The chess players who took the first places in their categories will have the right to represent Turkmenistan at the official world and continental championships, the nearest of which will be held in Greece in April 2023.

ORIENT news

Photo: Chess Federation of Turkmenistan