The Queen's move: a chess tournament among entrepreneurs was held in Ashgabat
On Sunday, a tournament among entrepreneurs, employees of private companies and their family members was held at the Ashgabat Chess School. The competition was held in four categories: absolute (or open), women's, children's and team.
In the absolute category, any participant of the tournament could play, regardless of age and gender, in the children's – boys and girls up to 14 years old, and in the team – 8 teams from private companies were involved.
In general, the games were held in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, which was facilitated by the quiz among children and adults held during the tournament. The children were asked the question "Who is the youngest world champion in the history of chess?".
(CORRECT ANSWER: Ruslan Ponomarev, who at the age of 18 became a world champion at the beginning of the XXI century. And to be precise, in January 2002.)
The following puzzle from a more distant history was addressed to women: the first queen of Spain, Isabella of Castile, who lived in the XV century, became famous in world history as an influential, far-sighted and very tough ruler, and what contribution did she make to the history of chess?
(CORRECT ANSWER: The chess piece queen (i.e. queen) was originally a weak piece, because at that time, according to the rules, she could move only one square, but in the XV century, the rules were changed thanks to Isabella of Castile, and the queen became the strongest chess piece.)
The quiz questions could be answered not only by the participants of the tournament, but also by guests who even happened to be in the chess and draughts club of the Turkmen capital that day.
Also, during the tournament, three draws were held as part of a chess problem solving competition. Including the position that arose in the game of the international master Saparmurat Atabayev at the recent Asian Chess Championship.
Then our compatriot, playing with black pieces, won against the winner of the World Chess Olympiad Nodirbek Yakubboev, completing the most difficult game with a spectacular move.
Considering that the current competition brought together business representatives, a gift certificate for conducting an audit of management systems was issued for the correct answer.
Don't be surprised, but the prize was won by a child. And as the future grandmaster said, he will give the entrepreneur this certificate, which is presented as a trophy by the individual enterprise "Halkara standart hyzmatlary". The certificate, as you know, is a very necessary document for businessmen, is valid throughout 2023. And its owner is entitled to a 30% discount.
The same prize was waiting for the participants of the competition and from the company "Merjenstoll" – its owner was entitled to a substantial discount on logistics and transport services.
For such prizes and other assistance, the organizers of chess tournaments and their numerous participants are grateful to the sponsors who support the popularization and development of this ancient game in Turkmenistan.
Sports observers believe, not without reason, that the chess movement in the country received a special impetus after Vepa Myalikgulyev headed the national federation in March this year, who managed to gather an active team of enthusiasts, including those with experience in international competitions.
Among them Mergen Kakabayev is a master of FIDE, currently serving as the general secretary of the federation, as well as a strong chess player Shahrukh Turaev and others.
A team of like-minded people has set specific goals, which Vepa Myalikgulyev will tell about later in a short video interview. It was also decided to actively introduce online chess tournaments and participate in international competitions more often, which helps to gain tournament experience.
Prior to today's tournament, the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan held a number of other competitions, including among diplomats working in Ashgabat.
In August of this year, a team of children under 14 years old took part in the fifth Mikhail Botvinnik Cup among CIS children's teams, held in Moscow. After a three-year break due to the global pandemic, it was the first and very long-awaited international tournament.
In September, our cadets (up to 8, up to 10 and up to 12 years old) will be in Georgian Batumi participated in the World Championship. And in early November, the national team of adult chess players played at the Asian Championship among men and women – both in classical chess and in the blitz format. At this championship, Azat Nurmammedov and Saparmurat Atabayev fulfilled the norms of the international master and grandmaster, respectively.
The federation plans to hold the championship of Turkmenistan among people with disabilities in three categories (blind, deaf and dumb and with disorders of the musculoskeletal system), as well as championships among those over 50 and over 65 years.
As for the results of the tournament among entrepreneurs and their families, the places in the open category were distributed in the following order – Meryem Agadzhanova, Niyazmammet Toymammedov, Garly Garlyev and Mergen Ovezov.
And in the women's category – Aknur Ishankuliyeva, Jahan Annanurova, Ejebay Dzhumayeva and Myakhri Ovezova.
In the children's category, the winners were Tigran Grigoryan, Ahmed Dzhanbekov, Mukhammet Ishankuliyev and Yusup Meredov.
In the team competition, the podium was shared by the teams of the enterprises "Nurana Bedev", "Bagir", "Belly Studio" and "Berk".
And now look at how the tournament of Turkmen chess players took place, which brought together participants, the youngest of whom were 5-6 years old, and adults older than them by more than half a century.
Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV
