Turkmen chess players won ten medals – 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze – in the rapid discipline at the ongoing international tournament "Ashgabat 2025." The competition brought together 129 participants from 11 countries, who competed for the title of the strongest in three age categories (under 8, 10, and 12 years) among boys and girls. Winners were determined after 9 rounds using the Swiss system with a time control of 15 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move.
The highest number of awards was won by our compatriots in the girls' U12, where they took the entire podium. Before the competition, many experts favored Aya Bayramova from Turkmenabat, who last year won a bronze medal in blitz at the World Cadet Championship in Durres, Albania, in the U10 category, and a silver medal in the Asian Schools Chess Championship - Rapid U11 in Bangkok, Thailand.
However, contrary to expectations, the real revelation of the tournament was Dilber Hupbyeva from Dashoguz. Scoring 7 wins and 2 draws, including a draw with A. Bayramova, the graduate of the Dashoguz Chess School scored 8 points out of 9 and deservedly won the gold medal. Aya Bayramova took silver, one point behind the winner. The bronze went to Nurana Soyunova from the Ashgabat club "Kuşt Älemi," who scored 6 points. Notably, this talented chess player once quit playing but returned after a year and a half break and won a bronze medal.
In the girls' U10, Lale Vepaeva ("Kuşt Älemi," Turkmenistan) confidently took first place. She scored 8 points in 9 games (7 wins and 2 draws), finishing one point ahead of second-place Zarina Nematjonova (Uzbekistan). Bronze with 6.5 points went to Dunya Ruslanova from Sports School No. 13 in Turkmenabat.
In the boys' U8, Charykhekim Charyev ("Kuşt Älemi," Turkmenistan) reached the top of the podium. Interestingly, he lost in the first round to Murodali Saifiev from Tajikistan but then won 8 games and rightfully took first place. Silver medalist Saifuddin Erkinboev (Uzbekistan) finished half a point behind. Bronze went to Murodali Saifiev (Tajikistan) with 6 points.
Another gold for the Turkmen team could have been won in the boys' U10 group by Maksat Avlyakuliev from Sports School No. 13 in Turkmenabat, silver medalist of the 2024 Asian Schools Chess Championship - Rapid U9. After 9 rounds, he scored 8.5 points, the same as Abdurahman Hajabov (Uzbekistan), with whom he drew. However, the Uzbek player won on tiebreaks. The bronze medalist was Iranian Saniyar Ashgar Hatir with 6 points.
In the boys' U12, the winner was Nurassyl Primbetov from Kazakhstan, the current West Asian Rapid Champion, with 8 points. Silver went to the Turkmenistan champion Alihan Batyrov (Mary, Turkmenistan), half a point behind, and bronze to Osman Hamrakuliev (Ashgabat, Turkmenistan) with 6 points.
In the girls' U8, gold was confidently won by Zarina Larina from Uzbekistan, scoring 8 points out of 9. Our compatriot Byagul Jumayeva from the Danev etrap of Lebap velayat finished one point behind. Kazakhstan's Amira Alemanova took third place with 6 points.
Based on the results of the first event, the unofficial team standings were led by Turkmenistan with 3 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Uzbekistan was second with 2 gold and 2 silver medals. Kazakhstan took third place with 1 gold and 1 silver, performing below expectations. Iran and Tajikistan each had one bronze medal.
Summing up the rapid tournament, a significant contribution to Turkmenistan's success came from the private chess club "Kuşt Älemi," whose players won two gold and one bronze medal. In preparation for "Ashgabat 2025," the club organized full training camps for its players, which yielded good results.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Mary Chess School refused to join the national team training camp in Ashgabat and preferred to prepare in their own velayat. As a result, Anna Chariyeva, seeded first and bronze medalist of the World Rapid Championship for girls U8 in Greece and considered a favorite for gold, performed below expectations. She finished 4th with 6 points, losing on tiebreaks to Amira Alemanova from Kazakhstan.
On the final day of the tournament, participants will compete in the second stage – blitz competitions, where 6 more sets of medals will be awarded. Games will be played in a super-fast format: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment per move.
The tournament is held at the Specialized Chess and Checkers School of Ashgabat, built on the initiative of Hero Arkadag and designed for 500 playing stations. Participants come from Vietnam, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The organizers are the Turkmenistan Chess Federation and the State Committee for Physical Culture and Sports with the support of the Government of Turkmenistan.
