The winners of the Turkmenistan National Championships in classical chess for boys and girls across age groups under 8 to 18 have been decided. Around 500 young players from across the country's velayats competed at the Specialized Chess and Checkers School in Ashgabat. The results will help form the national team for international tournaments.
The championships gathered approximately 500 participants from all regions of Turkmenistan, showcasing the nation's budding chess talent. Held at the Specialized Chess and Checkers School in Ashgabat, the event covered classical chess for boys and girls in under-8, under-10, under-12, under-14, under-16, and under-18 categories.
In the boys' under-8 group, Kerim Babaev from Ashgabat topped the field with 8 points out of 9, edging out Begmyrat Agamamedov from Lebap velayat by half a point. Hangeldi Myradov, also from Lebap, took bronze with 7 points. For girls under 8, Meryem Rustemova from Lebap secured the title with 8 points, prevailing on tie-breaks over Lachin Isaeva, while Chinar Pirkulieva finished third at 6.5 points.
The boys' under-10 saw a family triumph as Charykhekim Charyev won with 8 points, followed by his brother Halilmukhammet at 7.5 and Azat Sapardurdyyev from Mary at 7. Byagul Jumaeva from Lebap claimed the girls' under-10 crown with 7.5 points, ahead of Anna Charyeva from Mary.
Higher categories brought intense battles. Nazar Narimanov from Lebap won boys' under-12 on head-to-head over Omarbek Ismailov from Dashoguz, both at 7.5 points. Ayya Bayramova dominated girls' under-12 with 8.5 points. Ali Ahmedov went undefeated in boys' under-14 for 7.5 points, while Nurana Soyunova from Kusht Alemi academy led girls' under-14 at 8.5.
Ashyrmukhammet Atayev from Ashgabat took boys' under-16 with 8 points, and Jahan Rejepova from Lebap edged Myakhri Agamyradova in girls' under-16. In under-18, Shageldi Gurbandurdyyev from Lebap won boys' via tie-break at 8 points, and Jennet Yalkanova from Mary achieved a perfect 9/9 in girls'.
These even-year championships serve as a crucial selection for Turkmenistan's team at FIDE and ACF events, promoting chess to foster logical thinking among youth.