166 participants gathered at the recently concluded stage of the Grand Prix series of tournaments held in Turkmenabat, organized by the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, The Turkmenistan: Golden age electronic newspaper reports.
The competition was conducted using the Swiss system over 9 rounds with a time control of 90 minutes per player for each game plus an increment of 30 seconds for each move starting from the first move.
The contest for the title of the strongest was held among 100 participants in the open category and 66 in the women's category.
The tournament was held with the assignment of international ratings. This stage was given special significance as it was dedicated to the bright memory of the Honored Coach of Turkmenistan, Shakir Hakimov, who made an invaluable contribution to the development of the chess movement in Lebap region.
In the open category, where in recent years women have been allowed and even encouraged to participate alongside men, the winner was Mergen Kakabayev, the General Secretary of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan. In 9 games, he scored 7.5 points, outpacing Vepaly Hojaniyazov, third-year student of the Turkmen State Architecture and Construction Institute, and Jahan Rejepova, the reigning women's champion of Turkmenistan, 10th-grade student of Secondary School №41 of Turkmenabat, who took second and third places respectively.
In the women's category, the victory went to Gulmira Seyilhanova, a 12th-grade student of Secondary School №41 of Turkmenabat, who scored 8 points out of 9 possible. Half a point behind her was Myahri Aymakova, a 12th-grade student of Secondary School №27 of Danev etrap in Lebap region. The prize trio was completed by Jennet Yalkanova, an 11th-grade student of Mary Secondary School №16, with a result of 7 points.
Ahead lie new stages of the Grand Prix series, which will take place in Dashoguz, Turkmenbashi, and Mary, where no less intense and exciting battles for the championship are expected.
The final stage will be held in the capital. Based on its results, the winners in the open and women's categories will receive direct tickets to the Turkmenistan top league in 2026, where the national team for international competitions will be formed.
