The second edition of the Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup, which began today in the capital, has gathered 285 chess players from Ashgabat, Ahal, Dashoguz, Lebap and Mary velayats.

The venue of the competition is the hall of the specialized Chess and Checkers School.

The tournament is conducted in an 11-round Swiss system with classical time control in two categories: among chess players with a FIDE rating of 1700 points and above, and among players who have not reached this level. Players of all ages—from 6 to 61 years old—compete in one group, providing a valuable opportunity for young chess players to gain serious playing experience by competing against more experienced opponents.

The favorites in category "A" are FIDE Master Mergen Kakabayev (FIDE rating – 2270), as well as Amanmuhammet Hommadov (2227) and Allayar Shirliev (2246), who performed successfully as part of the men's national team at the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest. All five members of the women's national team, which, like the men's team, received small gold medals at the Olympiad in Hungary's capital, have also entered the competition for the Federation Cup. It is worth noting that our men's team took first place in category "B" at these prestigious biennial team competitions, while the women's team won in category "C."

Since the first Federation Cup was held, 130 chess tournaments with FIDE international rating calculations have been conducted in Turkmenistan.

According to Vepa Malikgulyev, Chairman of the country's Chess Federation, "regular participation in competitions is an essential condition for improving any chess player's skills, which is why the Federation tirelessly works to ensure our chess players have ample playing practice."

After the Federation Cup with classical time control concludes, rapid (fast chess) and blitz (lightning chess) tournaments will take place on October 9 and 10.

The winner of the Federation Cup will earn the right to participate in the most prestigious national tournament—the top league of the Turkmenistan Championship, scheduled for February-March 2025. The female participant who achieves the best result will also receive a direct entry into the women's top league.

The winners of the rapid and blitz tournaments will form Turkmenistan's national team in these types of chess.