The first league of the Turkmenistan chess championship ended on February 26

• an ordinary soldier of military unit No. 2112 of the State Border Service Allayar Shirliev (FIDE/Elo rating - 2111) won one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year. He scored 9 points out of 11 possible.

The same result with Allayar on points was shown by the coach of the national women's team of Turkmenistan, a candidate for master of sports from the city of Dashoguz - where the tournament was held - Shakhrukh Turaev (rating - 2183). However, he lost in additional indicators and was content with second place.

Ashgabat schoolboy Azim Saryev, who took 3rd place, was one point behind the leaders, and was able to raise his Elo rating by 80 points, almost to the level of 1900.

The competition at the championship was not only for prizes, but also for getting into the top six, which ensured a ticket to the Major League of the Turkmenistan Championship among men, which starts next week.

Having scored 7.5 points each, student of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering Vepaly Khalynyyazov and ex-world champion among boys under 8 years old, candidate for FIDE master Shageldy Kurbandurdyev, Lebap, took 4th and 5th places, respectively.

Eight players who scored 7 points each claimed 6th place, but according to additional indicators, the last remaining ticket to the Major League was awarded to a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Education and Sports, Muhammet Ezizov.

The winners of the tournament were awarded a cup, medals, certificates and cash prizes. Also, the chess players who took the first 10 places at the tournament were awarded gift certificates from the Dashoguz restaurant “DZ Burgerhouse”.

The tournament was held according to the Swiss system in 11 rounds. A total of 56 chess players took part. Tournament data is available at the link

The Chess Federation recalled that two chess players - the current national champion, grandmaster Maksat Atabaev and the gold medalist of the 2023 Asian Championship among schoolchildren under 17 years of age, Amanmuhammet Khommadov - are already eligible to participate in the Major League, which will be held from March 3 to 17.

ORIENT news