Kadyr Jumayev, a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management from Turkmenabat, emerged as the winner of the recently concluded Ashgabat qualifying stage for participation in the first league of the 2025 Turkmenistan Chess Championship. He achieved this success by leading in the open category, which allows both men and women to participate. Kadyr Jumayev scored 7.5 points over nine rounds.

A total of 99 chess players participated in the Ashgabat qualifying stage: 79 in the open category and 20 in the women's category.

Four players were half a point behind the winner, but based on additional criteria, second place went to Ybrayim Serdarov, a student from the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. Fifteen-year-old schoolgirl Jennet Yalkanova from Mary region completed the top three.

Sisters Lale and Byagul Vepaeva took an early lead in the women's category. Nine-year-old Lale, who became the Western Asia champion in the U10 group in Kyrgyzstan this August, won the tournament with 7.5 points. Her sister Byagul finished fourth with 6 points after losing her last two games. Dilber Hupbyyeva from Dashoguz region and nine-year-old Jumasoltan Muhammetberdiyeva from Mary region finished second and third with 6.5 points each.

Regional qualifiers for the Turkmenistan Chess Championship, called II League, are being held for the second year. The top ten chess players from each region will qualify for participation in the first league scheduled for early next year.

The Turkmen sporty newspaper