The Turkmenistan Team Chess Championship, held from March 22 to 28 in Ashgabat at the capital’s Specialized Chess and Checkers School, has concluded.
The tournament, organized by the National Chess Federation using a round-robin format, was the first in the history of independent Turkmenistan, opening a new chapter in the development of team chess in the country.
Twelve of the strongest teams participated in the championship, three of which represented the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School; two teams represented the Sports and Physical Culture Committee of the Lebap province; One team each represented the Ashgabat Sports Club for the Disabled, the Ahal province Sports Club, the National Sports Games Center of Turkmenistan. Moreover, the Ahal province Sports and Physical Culture Committee, the Galkan Sports Club of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan, the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan, as well as the Kusht Alemi Chess Academy, and the Halk Khazyna Economic Association.
100 players participated in the tournament
The championship consisted of 11 rounds. Throughout the week of competition, the teams demonstrated a fierce battle for leadership and a tense battle of wits. Each team played on six boards. Team “AŞGABAT” confidently defeated all opponents thanks to a balanced lineup; each player was as strong as the other teams.
The youngest team in the tournament was team “NESIL.” It consisted exclusively of children aged 12 to 14. The boys enthusiastically attacked adult opponents and renowned masters, and even managed to defeat some of them, demonstrating unity and unwavering composure.
Fierce battles unfolded between Maksat and Saparmurat Atabayev, players on the first board of the AŞGABAT and GALKAN teams. The brothers found themselves facing off at the chessboard, each defending their team’s honor. The game ended in a draw, lasting five hours. Ultimately, due to this draw, the AŞGABAT team won the overall score.
The awards ceremony for the winners took place on March 28. The prizes in the team championship were distributed as follows:
• 1st place – the AŞGABAT team from the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School;
• 2nd place – the GALKAN team from the Sports Club of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkmenistan;
• 3rd place – the “TALYP SPORT” team from the State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Turkmenistan.
The champion teams were awarded tournament cups, honorary certificates, and medals for the players. Individual awards were also presented: the top three players on each board were awarded.
The first Turkmenistan Team Championship was a highlight in the national competition calendar and marked the beginning of the further development of team chess in Turkmenistan.
