Ashgabat to Host the First-Ever International Chess Tournament, Kids Expo-Chess Cup 2026
From August 19 to 20, Ashgabat will host the first-ever official international chess tournament in Turkmenistan, Kids Expo-Chess Cup 2026. Rapid and blitz competitions will be held as part of the "KIDS EXPO: All for Kids" International Exhibition and Fair at the Exhibition Complex of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Young athletes in the U8, U10, and U12 age categories from more than 15 countries, including Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Iran, will compete in the chess arena. The tournament will be held according to the official rules of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The event will bring together not only young participants but also the international chess community. Grandmasters, champions, and representatives of national and international chess federations from Turkey, Jordan, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Libya, and other countries will arrive in the capital.
In addition to the competition, the Kids Expo-Chess Cup program includes:
Interactive areas: a free play zone, master classes, presentations, and a chess quiz;
Educational events: meetings for teachers, coaches, and organizers of children's chess programs;
Professional sessions: an exchange of experience between experts, grandmasters, and mentors.
The tournament's organizers and partners are the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, the International School Chess Federation, the Turkic Chess Association, the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives program of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and TurkmenExpo.
The international exhibition and fair "KIDS EXPO: All for Kids " will be held in Ashgabat from August 19 to 22.
