A vibrant and informative event dedicated to International Chess Day, celebrated worldwide on July 20, took place at the Russian House in Ashgabat. The intellectual game festival was organized jointly with the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan and gathered young participants aged 7 and older.
The guests were welcomed by the Chairman of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan (CFT), Vepa Myalikguliyev, who emphasized the importance of popularizing chess among youth and supporting young talents.
One of the highlights of the program was a simultaneous chess exhibition on 40 boards conducted by Mergen Kakabayev – Secretary General of the CFT, head coach of the Turkmenistan men’s national team, and FIDE master.
Participants had the unique opportunity to personally compete against a master and test their skills against a professional.
The event also featured:
- A training session titled "Learn to Play Chess in 30 Minutes" – an excellent starting point for beginners;
- A masterclass "Chess Life Hacks" – useful tips, techniques, and strategies from an experienced coach;
- Advice on developing thinking, tactics, and confidence at the chessboard.
The event took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
All participants left not only with pleasant impressions but also with new knowledge, inspiration, and a desire to grow in the world of chess!
To promote chess among children, the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan is holding this event for the second year in a row at the Russian House, coinciding with International Chess Day.
International Chess Day has been celebrated since 1966. The initiative to create this holiday belongs to the International Chess Federation (FIDE), which was founded on July 20, 1924, in Paris.
International Chess Day is observed in 178 countries. The tradition of its celebration was established by UNESCO. On this day, various themed events and competitions take place under FIDE’s auspices.
As part of this celebration, on July 20, 2004, World Champion Anatoly Karpov gave a simultaneous exhibition at the Kremlin. Among others, he drew a game with deputy Vladimir Zhirinovsky. They played using a luxury set of diamond chess pieces valued at 150,000 US dollars.
turkmenistan.gov.tm
