The national chess championship of the first league among men and women is being held in Ashgabat. In fact, the games of the first league are a qualifying tournament for entering the top league, which acts as the main base for the formation of the national team of Turkmenistan.

However, Lala Shohradova and Annagozel Mekanova are playing in the men's group, since they have already joined the higher league among women, and the chess federation decided to give them the opportunity to play in the men's group in order to gain experience in games with stronger opponents.

Some unofficial statistics.

There are 64 chess players in the men's category (the coincidence with the number of cells on the chessboard is accidental).

And in the women's category there are 32 chess players, that is, as many as there are pieces on the chessboard (a coincidence in this case is also unintentional).

The first two rounds, which are 96 games (64 in the men's group and 32 in the women's group), presented a lot of interesting games. Based on the results of these meetings, it can be stated that the struggle is persistent, but a group of leaders has already been determined. So, 15 men had a 100 percent result.

In the women's group, the question of leadership at that time was less definite.

The match between Maksat Muradov (white pieces) and Allayar Shirliev (black pieces) was selected from all the games of the two rounds of the championship. According to many, it was interesting, but not without mistakes, which will be analyzed by the chief referee of the tournament, FIDE master Mergen Kakabayev.

The third and fourth rounds brought more clarity to the standings. Especially in the men's group, where promising chess player Allayar Shirliyev and Yusup Bayramgeldiev, the champion of Turkmenistan in rapid, go without losses. Both have four points. And everyone is waiting with great interest for the day when they will come together in the main game among themselves.

Amanmuhammed Homadov, Lala Shohradova and Annagozel Mekanova are literally on their heels with 3.5 points.

The successes of very young chess fans are very pleasing. For example, Ali Ahmedov, who has not yet reached the age of 10, has 3 points out of 4 possible. He fights on an equal footing with adults and fairly experienced chess players, which is difficult to imagine in other sports.

So that all ages are submissive to chess.

According to the results of four rounds, Ogulsuray Bayrambaeva is in the lead in the women's group, which has a 100% result. It was expected – Ogulgrouy is a student of a sports university. Gulmira Seyilhanova is in second place, Meryem Agadzhanova is in third. They have 3.5 points each.

Although Meryem could have shared the first place with Ogulsurai, if not for today's draw. However, chess, like history, does not recognize the subjunctive mood.

The main referee of the tournament, the master of FIDE Mergen Kakabaev, will explain why this happened.

So, the first four rounds of the Turkmenistan Chess Championship of the first league among men and women are over. But the main parties are still waiting in the wings…

Bekdurdy AMANSARYEV