The international chess festival “Russian Chess Crown,” organized by the Moscow Region Chess Federation from February 17 to 28, has concluded in the Moscow region. This prestigious tournament confirmed its high status by bringing together approximately 500 participants from over 20 countries. The Turkmenistan team participated by special invitation from Sergey Karjakin, a Senator of the Russian Federation, President of the Moscow Region Chess Federation, and International Grandmaster.
The classical chess competitions were held according to the Swiss system over 10 rounds, with a time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Tournament A was characterized by a high density of results and intense competition throughout the entire distance.
The winner of Tournament A was Russian Grandmaster Boris Savchenko (rating 2445), the Moscow Champion of 2008, 2016, and 2019, as well as the Moscow Rapid Chess Champion of 2015 and 2021. He demonstrated stable and confident play, confirming his elite status.
The successful performance of Turkmen female chess players drew particular attention, showcasing significant progress and a high level of preparation. Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Leyla Shohradova (rating 2183) took 5th place among women in Tournament A (classical), finishing just half a point short of achieving an International Master norm. This result was one of the most notable achievements of the Turkmen delegation and confirmed her ambitions on the international stage.
In Tournament D (classical), Makhri Agamuradova (rating 1926) took 1st place among women, displaying confident and mature play. In Tournament C (blitz), Jahan Rejepova (rating 2051) won 3rd place among juniors under 16, showing excellent reflexes, tactical ingenuity, and a competitive spirit.
Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Lala Shohradova (rating 2110) also strengthened her position by gaining 22 rating points, making a significant contribution to the overall success of the women’s side of the team.
Representatives of the Turkmenistan men’s national team also performed well. International Grandmaster Meylis Annaberdiyev (rating 2424) took 17th place (within 15 main prizes), confirming his high level of play and competitiveness on the international arena.
Significant progress was achieved by FIDE Master Amanmuhammet Hommadov (rating 2269): following the tournament, he increased his rating by 31.4 points—one of the team’s most notable individual achievements.
