The long-awaited tournament for the Cup of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan has started in the Ashgabat Chess and Checkers School, bringing together 285 enthusiastic chess players!

This event pleases both the organizers and the participants, because the competition is held in two categories: for players with a FIDE rating of 1700 and above, as well as for those who have not yet reached this level.

The competition will last for 11 intense rounds with classical time control regulations. On October 9 and 10, everyone will enjoy an exciting final - rapid and blitz tournaments, which will add even more dynamics and emotions to this chess marathon!

The favorites of the "A" category are FIDE Master Mergen Kakabaev (FIDE rating - 2270) and players of the men's national team Amanmukhammet Khommadov (2227) and Allayar Shirliev (2246).

The women's team, which recently won small gold medals at the World Chess Olympiad, is also attracting special attention; now they are ready to compete for the Federation Cup.

The winner of the tournament will receive a unique opportunity to participate in the most prestigious national competition - the Higher League of the Turkmenistan Championship, which is scheduled for February-March 2025.

In addition, the participant who showed the best result among women will also receive a direct ticket to the women's premier league. Do not forget that the winners of the rapid and blitz tournaments will become part of the national team in these dynamic types of chess!

The tournament, held for the second time in recent history, brought together chess players from all over the country, including from Lebap, Ahal, Mary and Dashoguz regions.

Participants of all ages - from 6 to 61 years old - will compete in one group, which gives a unique opportunity for young talents to gain experience by competing with more experienced opponents.

Here is what Chairman of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan Vepa Myalikgulyev said before the start of the competition:

• After the victories of our teams at the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest in their categories, our society has shown increased interest in chess. Against this background, we, as a chess federation, have an additional responsibility to respond to this interest with new interesting and necessary initiatives for society.

For example, we believe that now is the time to resume the previously existing practice of teaching chess in secondary schools. Chess should be introduced into the primary school curriculum at least in several pilot schools in various regions of the country.

I am sure that children who play chess will improve their academic performance, at least in other exact disciplines, but also in the humanities. This pattern has already been proven by many studies in various parts of the world.

— I am also happy to share the news: in the near future, we are expecting the arrival of the world-famous grandmaster from England Nigel Short, who is known for having contested the title of world champion in a match with Garry Kasparov in 1993, - Vepa Myalikgulyev said.

Grandmaster Short is coming in the rank of FIDE director responsible for the global development of chess, and therefore the purpose of his visit is to get acquainted with the level of development of chess and sports in general in Turkmenistan.

During his stay in the country, Nigel Short intends to visit an exhibition dedicated to the development of sports and education in the country, give a simultaneous chess match with young players and hold meetings with representatives of sports departments.

…Over the past year, 130 chess tournaments with FIDE international rating calculation have been held in the country. According to the Chairman of the Chess Federation Vepa Myalikgulyev, “regular participation in competitions at both national and international levels is the key to improving the skills of any chess player. The Federation is constantly working to provide our chess players with the necessary game practice.”

The recent “golden” success of the men's and women's teams at the World Chess Olympiad is a vivid confirmation of these words. The men's team took first place in category “B”, and the women's team won in category “C”.

The real pride of the country!

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