From September 15 to 27, the entire chess world will turn its attention to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where the 46th World Chess Olympiad—the largest and most prestigious team event under the auspices of the International Chess Federation (FIDE)—will take place.
The century-long history of this tournament, dating back to 1927, will mark another bright chapter for Turkmenistan: a ten-member team representing the pride of the national chess school will defend the country’s honor on the Olympic stage.
Two years ago, at the 45th Olympiad in Budapest, the Turkmen national teams delivered historically best results, securing first place in their respective categories (the men’s team in Category B and the women’s team in Category C).
More than 400 national teams and over 4,000 participants from across the globe will gather at the Silk Road Samarkand International Exhibition Center to compete over 11 rounds in the Open and Women’s tournaments. Standing among this constellation is the flag of Turkmenistan, lifted high by athletes whose dedication and grit earned them the right to represent their homeland on the world stage.
Turkmenistan Women’s National Team:
Leyla Shohradova – Ranked No. 1 among women in Turkmenistan at the time of selection
Lala Shohradova – First place in the Women’s Top League, 2026
Jahan Rejepova – Second place in the Women’s Top League, 2026
Mahri Agamuradova – Third place in the Women’s Top League, 2026
Ogulsuray Bayrambayeva – Fourth place in the Women’s Top League, 2026
Turkmenistan Men’s National Team:
Saparmurat Atabayev – Ranked No. 1 among men in Turkmenistan at the time of selection
Meylis Annaberdiyev – Ranked No. 2 among men in Turkmenistan at the time of selection
Amanmuhammet Khommadov – First place in the Men’s Top League, 2026
Vepaly Halynyazov – Second place in the Men’s Top League, 2026
Shahrukh Turayev – Third place in the Men’s Top League, 2026
Turkmen chess players enter the Olympiad on the heels of confident victories. This year, they earned medals at the Central Asian Championships and prestigious international tournaments. Lala Shohradova made a major statement at the continental championship in Mumbai by becoming the Asian U20 Blitz Champion among girls, proving that Turkmenistan’s chess school can compete at Asia’s highest levels.
Honored Coach of Turkmenistan Serdar Annaberdiyev, who coaches the national team, expressed confidence in the team’s prospects: “I expect excellent results. Amanmuhammet and Lala are in fantastic form. I also expect strong performances from all our other players. I believe both of our teams will reach the podium in their respective categories.”
According to Annaberdiyev, the Ashgabat Chess School and the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan have maintained systematic preparation since January, holding daily morning and afternoon training sessions. Working alongside Shahrukh Turayev, head coach of the women’s team, and Mergen Kakabayev, head of the Federation’s Coaching Council, all efforts were focused on preparing these athletes for the main event of the year.
The performance of Turkmen players at tournaments in Issyk-Kul and Mumbai clearly demonstrates the steady growth of Turkmen chess. In Samarkand, the players will have a genuine opportunity to achieve International Master norms and boost their ratings.
The role of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in supporting the Turkmen teams’ preparation was also noted. Through cooperation between the two federations, joint training camps were conducted in Kokshetau, Kazakhstan in May, followed by online sessions over the summer. Currently, the players are back in Kokshetau for another training camp led by International Grandmaster Aleksandr Rakhmanov.
The Chess Federation of Turkmenistan is confident that the national athletes will carry the country’s flag with honor through all 11 rounds, further cementing Turkmenistan’s place on the global chess map. /// nCa, 5 September 2026 (based on a press release from the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan)