Last week, Vepa Mälikgulyýew, President of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, held working meetings with Sergey Karjakin, President of the Chess Federation of the Moscow Region (CFMR) and Senator of the Russian Federation, and Albert Minnullin, Executive Director of the CFMR.
The parties discussed prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation in chess development and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at strengthening partnerships, organizing joint tournaments, conducting training camps, and facilitating knowledge exchange between coaches and athletes.
Particular attention was paid to the opening of a Sergey Karjakin Chess Club in Turkmenistan. An agreement was reached to work through the organizational aspects of launching the club, which is intended to serve as a hub for training young talent, hosting masterclasses, and organizing international competitions. Other areas of collaboration were also discussed, including the development of youth programs, online education, and the participation of Turkmen players in the “Asian Chess League” series and other tournaments held within the Russian Federation.
During the visit, the parties participated in the awards ceremony for the winners of the international festival “Russian Chess Crown,” organized by the Chess Federation of the Moscow Region. The tournament featured representatives from 20 foreign delegations, including chess players from Turkmenistan.
Sergey Karjakin and Albert Minnullin noted that Turkmenistan had the largest representation among the foreign participants of the festival. They expressed special gratitude to the country’s leadership for the high level of involvement and support for the tournament, which was held for the first time.
Currently, Sergey Karjakin Chess Clubs successfully operate in Astana, Bishkek, and Dushanbe, as well as in dozens of other countries including Hungary, India, Thailand, and Chile. Immediate plans include the further expansion of this international network, including the opening of a representative office in Ashgabat.
Sergey Karjakin is an international grandmaster, Honored Master of Sports of Russia, World Cup winner, World Rapid and Blitz Champion, and a former World Chess Championship challenger. In addition to his sporting career, he is active in public and state affairs as a Senator of the Russian Federation and President of the Chess Federation of the Moscow Region, consistently implementing initiatives to popularize chess and support young athletes.
