On February 11, the Higher League of the Turkmenistan Chess Championship concluded in Ashgabat. The tournament followed a double round-robin format in both Open and Women’s categories, featuring the country’s strongest players.
Based on the final results, the champions and medalists are as follows:
Women’s Category:
| Rank | Name | Rating | Score | Background |
| 1st Place | Lala Shohradova | 2109 | 11.5 / 14 | Student at Yagshigeldy Kakaev International Oil and Gas University. |
| 2nd Place | Jahan Rejepova | 2051 | 8.0 / 14 | 10th-grade student from Lebap Region; 2025 national champion. |
| 3rd Place | Myahri Agamuradova | 1926 | 7.5 / 14 | 16-year-old student from Lebap Region. |
Lala Shohradova delivered a dominant performance throughout the tournament, solidifying her status as the leader of women’s chess in the country.
Key Highlights & National Team Selection:
- Leyla Shohradova (Rating 2183): Lala’s sister and the top-rated female player in the country, qualified for the national team automatically as the rating favorite. This allowed her the unique opportunity to compete in the Open (Men’s) category this year.
- Ogulsuray Bayrambayeva (Rating 1906): A 4th-year student at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, she secured 4th place with 7 points and earned her spot on the national team.
- Dilber Hupbyeva (Rating 1916): The 12-year-old 6th-grader from Dashoguz Region deserves special mention. She scored 6.5 points, finishing just shy of her goal to join the national team. Despite her age, she demonstrated mature and confident play against much more experienced opponents.
This completes the report on the championship results. It looks like Coach Serdar Annaberdiyev is having a fantastic year, having coached both the Men’s and Women’s champions!
Open Category:
| Rank | Name | Rating | Score | Background |
| 1st Place | Amanmuhammet Hommadov | 2269 | 11.0 / 14 | 2nd-year student at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports. |
| 2nd Place | Vepaly Halynyazov | 2194 | 9.5 / 14 | 3rd-year student at the Turkmen State Architecture and Construction Institute. |
| 3rd Place | Shahrukh Turaev | 2211 | 8.5 / 14 | Head coach of the Turkmenistan Women’s National Team. |
Amanmuhammet Hommadov demonstrated consistent and high-scoring play throughout the championship, rightfully earning the title of National Champion.
Notable Performances:
- Ilkhan Charyev (Rating 2187): A 12th-grade student from the Lebap region, he scored a solid 8.5 points, confirming his high level of preparation.
- Ahmet Gubataev (Rating 2176): A 1st-year student at the Turkmen State Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, who finished with 7.5 points, contributing to the high level of competition in the field.
- Rating Leaders: Saparmurat Atabaev (Rating 2487) and Meylis Annaberdiev (Rating 2424) were automatically included in the national team due to their top rating positions.
Looking Ahead: International Competitions
Both trophy winners train at the Specialized Chess and Checkers School of Ashgabat under the Merited Coach of Turkmenistan, Serdar Annaberdiyev.
Following the results of the Higher League, the Turkmenistan national teams have been formed for two major upcoming events:
- “Russian Chess Crown” (Moscow Region): Taking place from February 17 to 27, this prestigious tournament serves as a vital warm-up.
- 46th World Chess Olympiad (Samarkand, Uzbekistan): Scheduled for September 2024, this is the primary goal of the cycle. These international tournaments allow the country’s leading players to gain valuable practice, improve their competitive form, and strengthen team chemistry before the world stage.
Detailed results of the national championship can be found here: Chess-Results Link
///Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, 13 February 2026.