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The Chess Championship of Turkmenistan, held in Ashgabat, has only approached the equator after 4 rounds played, and the favorites in certain categories have already settled in their rightful places.

Thus, Amanmuhammet Hommadov from Ashgabat, seeded number one in the category of boys under 18 (FIDE rating: 1956), justifies all forecasts and takes the sole first place with 4 points out of 4 possible. Important for Amanmukhammad was today's victory against the 2nd seed - Lebap Vepaly Halyniyazov (rating: 1950), who was supposed to be the main competition for Hommadov in the race to win the tournament. Meanwhile, Vepaly shares 4-7 places with 2.5 points.

We offer to see how this victory was won by Amanmuhammet Hommadov.

Bayram Bayramov (Akhal) and Ahmet Gubatayev (Ashgabat), who have 3 points each, took the 2nd and 3rd places in this category. Lead player Hommadov will compete with Ahmet on Wednesday.

The situation is about the same in the group of girls under 18. The newly-crowned national champion among women from the Lebap region, 17–year-old Lala Shokhradova (FIDE rating: 1891), took an important step towards another championship title, defeating today a principled rival - a peer from Ashgabat Meryem Agajanova (rating: 1859).

Thus, Lala took the sole lead with 4 points, and she is being pursued by a group of four athletes with 3 points out of 4 possible, including Meryem herself.

Among young men under 16, Mekan Geldimyradov is also in the lead with a one hundred percent indicator. But the group of pursuers who are ready to challenge his leadership is located in this category much denser. For example, Arslan Hudayberdyev, Sanjar Gaibullayev and Serdar Bayramov, who are in 2-4 places, have 3.5 points each and are ready to fight the leader.

The central confrontation in this category in the 5th round will be the party of Mekan Geldymuradov against Arslan Hudayberdyev. It is noteworthy that the entire leadership group in this category represents Lebap.

Leyla Shokhradova from Lebap, who recently became a player of the adult women's national team, takes the expected first place in the category of girls under 16 with 4 points. A group of four girls is one point behind her. It seems that the fight in this group will unfold mainly for the 2nd and 3rd places.

In the largest category of boys under 14, where 64 chess players play, there are two leaders – Suleyman Nuryagdiyev (Lebap) and Begench Ovezov (Mary), who have 4 points each. But there are also a lot of those who are ready to challenge their positions, including the young winner of the championship among cadets under 10 who ended last week, Alyhan Batyrov, who is half a point behind them.

Four leaders were formed at once in the category of girls under 14 years old, including the newly minted national champion among girls under 12 years old – 11-year-old Nebahat Muradova (Lebap). With 3.5 points, Oguljeren Saparova (Ahal), Mahri Agamuradova (Lebap) and Aysha Ashirova (Ashgabat) make up her campaign.

The tournament is held according to the Swiss system, i.e. the opponents in each round are brought together by a certain algorithm depending on the points scored by the players. A total of 9 rounds will take place, and the competition will end on Friday, February 24.

All champions will have the right to represent our country at the official world and Asian championships.

ORIENT

Photo: Suleiman CHARYEV