The largest chess tournament in the history of the Balkan velayat of Turkmenistan was held in the city of Hazar (Cheleken) from August 23 to 25. The event was organized by Dragon Oil (UAE) with the support of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan. The open tournament was attended by 32 players, including children, women and chess enthusiasts.

According to the press service of the federation, the winner of the competition was candidate master of sports Shahruh Turayev from Dashoguz, who scored the maximum possible 7 points. Second and third places were taken by schoolchildren Davut Meredov from Ashgabat and Serdar Kabehanov from Mary, who scored 5.5 points each.

After the tournament, Shahruh Turayev, who is the coach of the women's national team, held a simultaneous game with five local participants, winning convincingly with a score of 4.5:0.5.

The tournament's chief arbiter was Gurbangeldy Amangeldyev, director of the first professional chess academy in Turkmenistan, "Kuşt Älemi". During the event, he also held talks with potential local chess coaches.

The organizers plan to make the tournament an annual event, attracting not only local amateurs, but also the best chess players in the country. In addition, the first children's chess club is planned to open in Hazar in the near future with the support of Dragon Oil, the "Kuşt Älemi" academy and the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan.