Eight players will compete in the Higher League for the title of Women’s Chess Champion of Turkmenistan. The championship will take place in Ashgabat from February 2 to 11 and will be played as a double round-robin tournament. The list of title contenders was determined based on the results of the First League tournament, which concluded at the capital’s specialized chess and draughts school.
Twenty-seven female chess players from all velayats competed for four qualification spots to the Higher League. The tournament was played under the Swiss system over 11 rounds.
The event ended sensationally: the winner was 12-year-old Dilber Hupbyeva (FIDE rating: 1780) from Dashoguz velayat, who became the youngest First League champion in its entire history. Scoring 8.5 points out of a possible 11, the young chess player confirmed the seriousness of her ambitions to earn a place on the national Olympic team for 2026.
A consistently high level of play was also demonstrated by Myahri Agamyradova (8.5 points, FIDE rating: 1884) from Lebap velayat, who finished second, losing first place only on tiebreaks.
Third place with 8 points was taken by Ayshe Gubataeva (FIDE rating: 1878), a student of the Magtymguly Turkmen State University from Ashgabat, who confidently confirmed her status as an experienced player.
The fourth and final qualifying spot for the Higher League was claimed by Myahrijemal Gurbangeldiyeva (7.5 points, FIDE rating: 1851) from Ashgabat, who finished in fourth position.
In the women’s elite division, the First League leaders will be joined by:
Jahan Rejepova (FIDE rating: 1985), the reigning 2025 Higher League champion;
Gulmira Seyilkhanova (FIDE rating: 1914), qualified via the Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup;
Ogulsuray Bayrambaeva (FIDE rating: 1945), vice-champion of the Turkmenistan Grand Prix series;
Lala Shohradova (FIDE rating: 2089), admitted based on rating.
Following the results of the Higher League championship, the composition of the women’s national team will be determined for participation in the 46th World Chess Olympiad, which will be held in September this year in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
