First Medal at the International Braille Chess Association Olympiad in the History of Turkmenistan
The Chess Federation of Turkmenistan is proud to announce the successful performance of the Turkmen International Master (FM) Aydogdy Atabayev at the 17th IBCA (International Braille Chess Association) World Chess Olympiad for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which was held from 19 to 26 June 2025 in the picturesque town of Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia, which became an important milestone in the history of inclusive international sports.
FM Aydogdy Atabayev represented Turkmenistan on the first board and showed an outstanding result:
✓ 6 points out of 7 possible (5 wins, 2 draws, no losses)
✓ Performance rating: 2353
✓ 3rd place among first board players from 22 countries
The final place was determined by the performance rating, which reflects the quality of the game, taking into account the rating of the opponents. According to the official rating on the Chess-Results website, Atabayev lost only to two grandmasters: Marcin Tazbir from Poland (perf. 2543) and Daniel Pulvet from Spain (perf. 2467), while beating a number of titled players from Ukraine, Germany, France, Romania and other countries.
This prestigious event, organized by the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), brought together 22 national teams from around the world, celebrating the spirit of competition and the power of chess, which can overcome visual barriers.
About the 17th IBCA Chess Olympiad
The competition was played according to the Swiss system in 9 rounds, designed to ensure fair play and competitive pairings among teams. The tournament strictly followed the official FIDE Chess Olympiad rules, which underlines its professional status. Each player was allocated 120 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move from the very beginning of the game, such a time control encourages deep strategic thinking and minimizes time pressure.
“The 17th IBCA Chess Olympiad once again demonstrated the incredible talent, resilience and sportsmanship of visually impaired chess players from all over the world,” Jorgen Magnusson, President of the IBCA said.
About IBCA
The International Braille Chess Association (IBCA) is the world governing body for blind and visually impaired chess. Founded in 1958, IBCA is affiliated with FIDE and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). IBCA is dedicated to promoting, regulating and organizing chess competitions and events for its members worldwide, creating an inclusive environment where visually impaired chess players can realize their full potential and experience the benefits of the sport.
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