Legendary chess player Nigel Short, known for his 1993 World Championship match against Garry Kasparov, spent a week in Ashgabat, participating in several significant events from October 9 to 12. The highlight of his visit was the blitz tournament for the Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup, held on October 10. Short, with a FIDE blitz rating of 2571, won the tournament, scoring 7.5 points out of 9 possible.

According to the press service of the TCF, the tournament also featured international grandmaster from Ashgabat Maksat Atabayev and candidate master Amanmuhammet Khommadov, who also scored 7.5 points but took second and third places respectively based on additional criteria. Atabayev drew with Short, while Khommadov even defeated the renowned grandmaster but lost points in other games.

The closing ceremony of the tournament was attended by the British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon, who personally awarded the gold medal to his compatriot. More than 300 chess players participated in the Turkmenistan Chess Federation Cup, and 45 winners in various categories received cups, medals, certificates, and cash prizes.

Foreign guests, including Nigel Short and the British Ambassador, were dressed in national Turkmen costumes and visited the chess museum at the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School. A large chessboard with pieces, on which the guests played a game with the 'English Opening,' attracted special interest.

As part of his visit, Short also held a simultaneous exhibition with 10 young chess players, which lasted more than two hours and ended with his victory in all games. The young athletes gained valuable experience and a lot of positive emotions.

Additionally, at the request of the country's coaches and leading chess players, Short held a separate meeting to discuss the development of chess skills and coaching activities. He noted the high level of chess infrastructure in Ashgabat and the talent of young Turkmen chess players, expressing confidence in Turkmenistan's readiness to host international tournaments of the highest level.

On Saturday, at the 'Nisa' stadium in Ashgabat, the football club 'Arkadag' defeated the experimental squad of the Turkmenistan national team in a friendly match with a score of 2:0. The goals were scored by Resul Hodjaev in the 28th minute and Begench Akmammedov in the 82nd minute, despite the team playing with ten men from the 74th minute after Abdy Byashimov was sent off.

The head coach of the national team, Mergen Orazov, used this game to test the team's immediate reserves, not calling up the leaders for the match. Despite having a numerical advantage at the end of the game, the Turkmenistan national team could not change the course of the match. Moreover, in the 76th minute, 'Arkadag' goalkeeper Kakageldy Berdyev saved a penalty taken by Ilyas Charyev.

For the team from the 'smart' city, this match was an important preparation ahead of the upcoming group stage of the AFC Challenge League, which will be held in Kuwait. 'Arkadag' will face FC 'Maziya' on October 26, 'Abdysh-Ata' on October 29, and 'Al-Arabi' on November 1

Football club “Altyn Asyr” of the “Turkmenaragatnashyk” Agency won against “Ashgabat” with a score of 3:1 in the postponed match of the 24th round of the Turkmenistan Premier League. The game took place in the Buzmeyin etrap of Ashgabat at the “Sport toplumy” stadium, FFT reports.

The match remained goalless for a long time until Murad Annayev opened the scoring with a penalty in the 78th minute. Vakhyt Orazsahedov increased “Altyn Asyr's” advantage in the 85th minute, and just a few minutes later Annayev scored a double, also converting a penalty. “Ashgabat” managed to score a consolation goal in the final minutes of the match thanks to the efforts of Shamurad Mammedov.

This victory permitted “Altyn Asyr” to return to second place in the championship. The team has 52 points, the same number as third-placed “Ahal”. “Ashgabat” remains in seventh place with 18 points after 24 matches.

The tournament leader, “Arkadag”, as previously reported, beat “Nebitchi” in the postponed match of the 28th round 5:1 and became the champion of Turkmenistan ahead of schedule.

In the next round, “Ashgabat” will host “Shagadam” on October 16, and the match between “Altyn Asyr” and “Arkadag” has been postponed to a reserve date due to the teams' participation in international Asian club tournaments.

Today in Ashgabat, at the building of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, the International Conference 'Interconnection of Times and Civilizations - the Basis of Peace and Development' began its work. This conference is organized as part of a large program celebrating the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy.

The high-level forum, with the participation of many heads of state, is chaired by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Participants in the conference include: President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Among the guests are: the Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of the Republic of Turkey, the head of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the General Conference of UNESCO, leaders of international organizations, members of foreign governments, renowned scholars, cultural figures, and diplomats.

The main goals of the international conference are to popularize the classical heritage of Magtymguly Pyragy, study the interconnection of languages and literatures of Eastern peoples, his role in the development of national statehood, and the contribution of the humanist poet to the treasury of universal spiritual values, reports TDH.