Turkmenistan women chess players entered Top 6 of Asian Zonal Championship

Representatives of the women's chess team of Turkmenistan, Jahan Rejepova and Bagul Ezizova, took fourth and sixth places respectively at the Asian Zonal Championship (Zone 3.4), which was held in Almaty from April 1 to 10.

Particularly distinguished was 14-year-old Jahan Rejepova, who was awarded the title of FIDE Women's Master (WFM) and fulfilled the first norm of Women's International Master (WIM). This was reported by the press service of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan.

The tournament was an official qualifying round for the 2025 FIDE World Cup and brought together 131 leading chess players from five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan, including 87 men and 44 women.

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

During the competition, Rejepova scored a number of impressive victories over strong opponents, including players from the Kazakhstan national team. She scored 1.5 points out of 2 possible in games against the silver medalists of the Budapest 2024 Olympiad, including a win over WGM Liya Kurmangalieva (FIDE rating 2249) and a draw with the tournament’s top seed, WGM Aloua Nurman (2347).

Thanks to her successful performance, Redzhepova increased her FIDE rating by 137 points, bringing it to 2150. With a score of 6.5 points out of 9 possible, she took fourth place, stopping just one step away from the podium and a ticket to the World Cup.

Another representative of Turkmenistan, international female candidate Byagul Ezizova (1941), took sixth place with 6 points.

In the men's tournament, Turkmen chess player Saparmurat Atabayev (2530), who recently received the title of grandmaster, took ninth place with 6 points, failing to hold a draw in the final round in a duel with Muhammadzokhid Suyarov.

Following the results of the championship, three chess players won tickets to the World Cup: Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan) - 7.5 points, Elnaz Kaliakhmet (Kazakhstan) - 7 points and Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan) - 7 points; as well as four chess players: Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan) - 7.5 points, Satbek Ahmedinov (Kazakhstan) - 7 points, Alisher Suleimenov (Kazakhstan) - 7 points and Muhammadzohid Suyarov (Uzbekistan) - 7 points.