The inaugural stage of the Turkmenistan Grand Prix, held at the capital’s Chess and Checkers School, attracted 130 participants.
Organized by the National Chess Federation, the tournament aims to provide national chess players with competitive experience, diversify pathways to the major league, and promote chess among the public.
This new tournament series comprises six stages across Turkmenistan’s five regions and its capital. Participants accumulate points throughout these stages, which are crucial for overall standings. The final stage, held in the capital, will determine the winners in both open and women’s categories, who will then qualify for the 2026 Turkmenistan Major League, where the national team for international competitions is formed.
In Ashgabat, 86 players competed in the open category, and 44 in the women’s category, vying for victory.
In the open category, where women are encouraged to participate, Amanmuhammet Hommadov (rating 2251), a student of the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Education and Sports and coached by Serdar Annaberdiyev, emerged as the winner with 8 points, having won 7 games and drawn 2.
Four players trailed by one point, with their final positions determined by tie-breaking coefficients. Lale Shohradova (rating 2137), from the International University of Oil and Gas, secured silver, and Serdar Bayramov (rating 1998), from Turkmenabat Secondary School №31, won bronze.
Jahan Rejepova, the 2025 Higher League women’s champion, finished seventh with 6.5 points.
Enesh Arazmedova (rating 1811), a 12th-grader from Ashgabat Secondary School №17 and a member of Turkmenistan’s national team that won a small gold medal in the “C” category at the Budapest World Chess Olympiad last year, won the women’s category. Despite being seeded sixth, she outperformed her more experienced opponents with 7.5 points, increasing her rating by 96 points. She is also coached by Serdar Annaberdiyev.
Gulmira Seyilhanova (rating 1926), an 11th-grader from Turkmenabat Secondary School №41, took second place with 7 points.
Four players scored 6.5 points, with Bagul Ezizova (rating 1939), a FIDE Master Candidate also coached by Serdar Annaberdiyev, claiming the bronze medal based on tie-breaking criteria.
Notable performances were also seen from young players like Aya Bayramova, Nurana Soyunova, and Dilber Hupbyyeva, who competed strongly against older opponents. Soyunova particularly impressed, increasing her rating by 126 points. Shahruh Turayev, the head coach of the women’s national team, has high hopes for their future international performances.
The Ashgabat stage was supported by the “Küşt Älemi” Chess Academy, TurkmenExpo company, the Belle application, and other partners of the National Chess Federation.
A significant innovation was the introduction of real-time online game broadcasting, a major step for Turkmen chess. Seven boards in the open category and three in the women’s category were broadcast in test mode, facilitated by collaboration with Dutch chess equipment manufacturer DGT and Turkmen IT company “Imdat Elektronika”.
The next stage of the Turkmenistan Grand Prix is scheduled for May in the Balkan region.
