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The young chess elite entered the battle at the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School, where the national championship among boys and girls under 20 started on January 5. This tournament is considered the second strongest of the year, as it includes almost all the players of the men's and women's top leagues of 2024.

As noted in the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, the main favorites of the tournament among young men are last year's champion, candidate for master of sports Amanmukhammet Khommadov and vice-champion, candidate for FIDE master Akhmet Gubatayev (both Ashgabat, both born in 2006), who so far have a 100% result after two completed rounds. In the third round on January 6, Amanmukhammet will play against the silver medalist of the recent tournament among schoolchildren under 15, Akhmet Artykov (Mary), and Akhmet Gubatayev will play against the current champion among schoolchildren under 13, Ali Akhmedov (Ashgabat).

Also, among the players with a 100% result, we can highlight the former world champion among children under 8, now 17-year-old Shageldi Kurbandurdyev (Lebap), and participants of last year's world championship among juniors Azim Saryev (Ashgabat) and a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering Vepaly Khalyniyazov (Lebap).

The main favorite of the tournament among girls, a student of the International University of Oil and Gas 19-year-old Lala Shokhradova (Lebap) sensationally lost to 17-year-old Myahrijemal Gurbangeldiyeva (Ashgabat) in the second round and so far has only 1 point out of 2 possible. After Lala's defeat, 15-year-old Jahan Rejepova (Lebap) moved to the first place, who will play against the former world champion among schoolgirls under 7, now 19-year-old Byagul Ezizova, in the third round.

In another central game of the round, participants of the World Chess Olympiad, FIDE candidate master among women Leyla Shokhradova (Lebap, 18) and Enesh Arazmedova (Ashgabat, 18) meet.

The winners of the Classic Championship, which will last until January 10, will have the right to represent our country at the World Junior Championship, which will be held in Montenegro from February 23 to March 8, as well as at the Asian Junior Championship, which will be held in Colombo (Sri Lanka).

On January 11 and 12, national championships in the same age category in rapid and blitz will be held. In total, more than 100 chess players are taking part in the tournaments, despite the organizers imposing a minimum rating level for participants - 1400.

The winners of the championship will receive valuable prizes provided by sponsors, including the insurance company "Resmi Kepil", the chess academy "Küşt Älemi", the stationery store "Globus", the B2B marketplace "ALSAT.com.tm" and the media platform "Orient".

Tournament data is available at https://chess-results.com/tnr1093727.aspx?lan=11&art=2&rd=3

ORIENT

Photo: TCHF