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Muhammet Ezizov, a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, won the Ashgabat qualification stage of the first league of the Turkmenistan Men’s Chess Championship, which was held in the capital from October 31 to November 4.

Muhammet, who was the rating favorite of the tournament with the international rating FIDE 1905, took the lead from the very first rounds and brought the matter to an overall victory. Having scored 8 points out of 9 possible, Muhammet was half a point ahead of his closest pursuer – fellow student Ibrahim Serdarov (rating – 1556). And the third place was taken by a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management Azatgeldi Annageldiev (1781), who scored 7 points in the end.

Unlike the men’s tournament in the women’s championship, the fight for the championship went on until the last round. Schoolgirls Arzygul Mukhamova and Pervana Serdarova showed the same result – 7.5 points out of 9 possible. As a result, only by additional indicators, Arzygul became the champion of the Ashgabat qualification stage of the first league among women, who won her opponent in a face-to-face meeting. The third place in the tournament was taken by another Ashgabat schoolgirl Aisha Ashirova, who scored 7 points.

According to the results of each tournament, the first 10 places qualified for the first league of the championship of Turkmenistan. In total, about 60 players selected from different regions and championships will play in the first league. According to the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, this system of qualification to the first league through regional stages is being introduced for the first time this year in order to popularize chess in the regions of the country, identify new young talents, and improve the skill level of the first and highest leagues of the national championship.

On Monday, November 6, the Dashoguz stage of qualification for the first league started. The Lebap and Mary stages will also be held during this month. Representatives of the Balkan and Ahal regions joined the Ashgabat stage this year.

Tournament data is available at this link

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Photo: SHFT