Members of the Turkmenistan women's chess team were awarded at the Asian Zonal Championship that ended in Almaty

Members of the Turkmenistan women's chess team Jahan Rejepova and Byagul Ezizova were awarded for 4th and 6th places, respectively, at the Asian Zonal Championship (Zone 3.4) that ended in Almaty (Kazakhstan). The tournament, which was held from April 1 to 10, is the official qualifying round for the 2025 World Cup (FIDE World Cup 2025). The competition brought together 131 leading chess players from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan - 87 men and 44 women.

As Vice-President of the Asian Chess Federation and Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Darmen Sadvakasov noted at the closing ceremony, Turkmen girls, especially 14-year-old Jahan, loudly declared themselves at a high international level, demonstrating a mature level of play.

During the tournament, Jahan Rejepova managed to defeat formidable opponents, including those from the national team of Kazakhstan. For example, 1.5 points out of 2, scored in games with the silver medalists of the Budapest 2024 Olympiad, including a brilliant victory over Grandmaster (WGM) Liya Kurmangalieva (FIDE rating - 2249) and a confident draw from a position of strength with the first seeded Grandmaster (WGM) Alua Nurman (2347), aroused the admiration of coaches from different countries and observers, who noted that a new Turkmen star had appeared on the horizon of Central Asian chess.

Thanks to her successful performance at the tournament, Jahan Rejepova was awarded the title of FIDE Women's Master (WFM) and fulfilled the first norm of Women's International Master (WIM). Jahan also increased her FIDE rating by 137 points and brought it to 2150. As a result, with 6.5 points out of 9 possible, taking fourth place, Jahan stopped just one step away from the podium and the coveted ticket to the World Cup.

Another Turkmen chess player, International Women's Candidate Byagul Ezizova (1941), took 6th place, scoring 6 points.

The following players received tickets to the World Cup:

Women:

1) Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan, 2326) – 7.5 points

2) Elnaz Kaliakhmet (Kazakhstan, 2178) – 7 points

3) Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan, 2342) – 7 points

Men:

1) Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan, 2469) – 7.5 points

2) Satbek Akhmedinov (Kazakhstan, 2318) – 7 points

3) Alisher Suleimenov (Kazakhstan, 2478) – 7 points

4) Mukhammadzohid Suyarov (Uzbekistan, 2469) – 7 points

In the final round, our compatriot Saparmurat Atabayev (2530), who recently received the title of grandmaster, was close to qualifying for the World Cup, but, unable to hold a draw in the confrontation with Mukhammadzokhid Suyarov, finished the competition with 6 points in 9th place.