Today, in the capital the three-day international chess tournament was over. As known, 129 sportsmen in age categories 8, 10 and 12 year olds from 11 countries of Europe and Asia became participants of this intellectual competition. The same day, in Arkadag city, in the centre of celebrations of the hotel "Märkaw", an awarding ceremony of young chess players on behalf of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag was held by the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship.

On the threshold of the ceremony, results of the International tournament summed up in the capital specialized chess-checkers school where the awarding of winners took place.

By the results of played games young talents from Turkmenistan, having shown a great skill, distinguished themselves with their secured points.

So, following the results of the competitions in rapid our country won first place in the overall medal count. Young Turkmen chess players were awarded 3 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals that as a whole 10 awards.

The second place in the competition was occupied with young chess players from the Republic of Uzbekistan, who won 2 gold and 2 silver medals - as a whole 4 awards. The honourable third place went to representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan who won 1 gold and 1 bronze medals - only 2 awards.

During the tournament prize-winning places among girls were distributed as follows: in the age category of 8 year olds a gold medal went to Larina Zarina from Uzbekistan, she secured 8 points, silver – to Jumayeva Bagul from Turkmenistan with result of 7 points, and bronze medal to Alemanova Amira from Kazakhstan with 6 points.

Among girls in the age category of 10 year olds a gold medal was won by Vepayeva Lale from Turkmenistan (8 points); silver medal by Nematjanova Zarina from Uzbekistan (7 points), and our compatriot Ruslanova Dunya (6,5 points) became a bronze prize-winner.

In the age group of 12 year olds all medals were won by representatives of Turkmenistan: Hupbiyeva Dilber won a gold medal with 8 points, Bayramova Aya - silver one with 7 points, and Soyunova Nurana – a bronze medal with 6 points.

Among boys in the age category of 8 year olds Charyev Charyhekim from Turkmenistan showed the best result. Having secured 8 points, he won a gold medal and first place. The second place (7, 5 points) was occupied by Erkinboyev Saifuddin from Uzbekistan with a silver medal and Saifiyev Murodali from Tajikistan with 6 points gained the third place and a bronze medal.

In the age category of 10 year olds, prize-winning places were distributed as follows: the first place (8,5 points) went to Rajabov Abdurahmon from Uzbekistan (a gold medal), the second - Avlyakulyev Maksat from Turkmenistan with the same quantity of points (a silver medal), the third - Asghar Khatir Saniar from Iran with 6 points (a bronze medal).

Among boys in the age group of 12 year olds, the first place and a gold medal went to Primbetov Nurassyl from Kazakhstan with 8 points. And, accordingly, silver and bronze medals as well as second and third places were won by Batyrov Alyhan (7,5 points) and Hamrakulyev Osman (6 points) from Turkmenistan.

In the blitz competitions, the first place in the overall medal count was also occupied with young chess players from Turkmenistan who won 4 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals – total of 9 awards.

In the same discipline, chess players from the Republic of Uzbekistan won 2 gold, 1 silver – total of 3 medals and secured the second place. The third prize-winning places went to representatives of the Republic of Kazakhstan who won 3 silver and 2 bronze medals – total of 5 medals.

Among girls in the age category of 8 year olds, having secured 7,5 points, the first place was occupied with Charyeva Anna from Turkmenistan with a gold medal. Larina Zarina from Uzbekistan, having obtained 7 points, secured the second place and won a silver medal, and Isayeva Lachyn from Turkmenistan, having secured 6,5 points, took the third place with a bronze medal.

Among girls in the age category of 10 year olds, all prize-winning places were occupied chess players from Turkmenistan: the first place - Ruslanova Dunya who gained 8 points (a gold medal), the second place - Vepayeva Lale who secured 7 points (a silver medal), the third place - Muhammetberdiyeva Jumasoltan who gained 6,5 points (a bronze medal).

Among girls in the age category of 12 year olds, the first place went to Bayramova Aya from Turkmenistan with 9 points and a gold medal. Kairbekova Alina from Kazakhstan, having secured 7 points, took the second place and won a silver medal, and Ramisova Adelina from Kyrgyzstan, having obtained 6,5 points, took the third place and a bronze medal.

Among boys in the age category of 8 year olds, the first and second places were divided among young Turkmen chess players: the first place was occupied with Charyev Charyhekim who gained 8 points and won a gold medal, and the second place - Garlyev Isa who secured 7,5 points and won a silver medal. The third place and a bronze medal went to Omurzakov Altair from Kazakhstan with 5,5 points.

Among boys in the age category of 10 year olds, prize-winning places were distributed as follows: Rajabov Abdurahmon from Uzbekistan with 7,5 points won the first place (a gold medal), Mukashev Alrami from Kazakhstan with 6,5 points, took the second place (a silver medal), Merdanov Myrat from Turkmenistan with the same points, took the third place (a bronze medal).

Among boys in the age category of 12 year olds, the first place and a gold medal went to Husanov Islombek from Uzbekistan with 8 points. The second and third prize-winning places were divided among young chess players from Kazahstan - Primbetov Nurassyl who gained 8 points (the second place, a silver medal), and Amangeldy Nuras who secured 6 points (the third place, a bronze medal).

Thus, in the International chess tournament among 8, 10 and 12 years old sportsmen, which was held in the specialized chess and checkers school in Ashgabat city, in the overall medal count in rapid and blitz disciplines Turkmenistan, having won 7 gold, 6 silver and 6 bronze medals – a total of 19 awards, won the first place and became winner of the tournament.

The second place went to young chess players from the Republic of Uzbekistan, who won 4 gold and 3 silver medals – a total of 7 awards. And the third place was won by young chess players from the Republic of Kazakhstan who secured 1 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze medals – a total of 7 medals.

Under solemn conditions well-deserved awards were handed to young talented chess players.

Foreign guests, participants of the tournament with great enthusiasm noted a high organizational level of the competitions which were held in Ashgabat. The capital specialized chess and checkers school where the intellectual competition was held and the possibilities created there made unforgettable impression upon guests.

In the second half of the day, participants of the International chess tournament headed towards Arkadag city. After arrival in the new "smart" city they were photographed before the building of the children's health and rehabilitation centre named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov where the head office of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship is located.

Then, in the centre of celebrations of the hotel "Märkaw", the ceremony with participation of the khyakim of Arkadag city, Managing Director of the Office of Halk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, Vice-President of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship, heads of public organisations and political parties, heads and representatives of diplomatic representatives accredited in our country and missions, participants of the international tournament as well as schoolchildren of Arkadag city, mass-media took place.

During the celebration they conveyed their congratulations to Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar in connection with successful organisation of the International chess tournament in Ashgabat. In heir speeches a special significance of the organisation of these competitions in the International year of peace and trust was underlined. The gathered expressed their gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag for the contribution to development of chess sports and created conditions, which allowed to hold the prestigious International tournament at high level.

In the Era of Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, a complex strategy initiated by National Leader of Turkmen people Hero Arkadag and nowadays realised under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov is aimed at encouragement and all-round support of mass physical training and health improving and sports movement, sports of higher achievements. This area was defined as one of the priority areas in the state policy of our fatherland.

Adoption of several relevant resolutions by the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization at the proposal of our country speaks of recognition of efforts of Turkmenistan in development of sports and consolidation of principles of healthy way of life in society. It testifies to a broad support of the reforms implemented in our fatherland in the sports sphere by the world community. Announcement of Ashgabat «the city of new sports possibilities of the Commonwealth» at the meeting of the Council of heads of the governments of the CIS, and the Tennis complex in the structure of the capital Olympic village - «Education-training centre of the Asian region» by the Asian Tennis Federation also attest to this fact clearly.

All it promotes augmentation of the authority of neutral Turkmenistan on the world scene, advancement of complex initiatives aimed at development of effective cooperation with foreign partners and support of general humanitarian issues and peace-making efforts of the Olympic movement.

Construction of the Olympic village in Ashgabat, which does not have analogues in the Central Asian region, promoted to bring out Turkmen sports to a qualitatively new level. As known, on its arenas in 2017 with triumph the V Asian indoor and martial arts games that marked a new chapter in the history of national sports were held. As a result Turkmenistan entered in the list of countries having all conditions for organisation of competitions of high level. It has also displayed success of the sports diplomacy realised by our country in interests of universal peace and well-being.

Augmentation of sports authority of our fatherland was also promoted by conduction of the International auto rally «Amul-Hazar 2018» and the World weightlifting championship which have entered the annals of national history and world sports with new bright pages. Among other large competitions held in Ashgabat, it is possible to note the team superiority of Central Asia in tennis among juniors under 12, 14th world championship in kurash, international hockey tournament with participation of teams from CIS countries and other states, and international competitions in national goresh and alysh belt wrestling with participation of athletes from 13 states of Asia and Europe.

In speeches, it was underlined that active development of sports in our country, which are an ambassador of peace, - the result of ample opportunities for harmonious education of young generation, realisation of its creative potential created by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and the President of Turkmenistan. Indeed, sports bring together and unite people, serve to strengthen mutual understanding and trust on the international scene.

An emphasis on the fact that thanks to consecutive efforts of Hero Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar in independent neutral Turkmenistan necessary conditions are provided for peaceful life, modern education, practice of sports and strengthening of health of young citizens, was also made.

In the given context, it was marked that our country is committed to main principles of the United Nations Organization concerning the rights and interests of children, and the all-round care of the growing generation - the future of our country – is constantly in the centre of attention of the state and society.

Proceeding from these purposes in our independent fatherland, which by right was recognised as the country of happy childhood where dreams come true, under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov complex programs, called to provide young Turkmen nationals with all possibilities for fruitful study, realisation of creative and sports talents, high-grade rest so that they grow well educated, erudite, purposeful, physically strong and spiritually rich, are successfully realised. Thus, the special attention is given to patriotic education of the youth.

The present celebration – evidence of boundless care of Hero-Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar of the younger generation of not only our country, but also the whole world.

Along with it, it was pointed out that the International chess tournament, held three days in the Ashgabat specialized chess and checkers school organised in the International year of peace and trust, has visually shown adherence of Turkmenistan to ideals of friendship and brotherhood, peaceful disposition and prosperity, consent and solidarity.

As was underlined, these competitions in the intellectual sport became an acknowledgement of the fact that realisation of principles of the sports diplomacy brings positive results. Speakers once again congratulated all on the successful completion of competitions.

Then, the solemn awarding ceremony of participants of the International chess tournament among sportsmen in the age categories of 8, 10 and 12 year olds took place.

Talented young chess players from 11 countries of Europe and Asia, including Turkmenistan, Vietnam, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Russia, Tajikistan, Thailand and Uzbekistan, with feeling of sincere gratitude received laptops – gifts of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship handed them on behalf of National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag. Gifts were also handed to parents, trainers and doctors accompanying children to Ashgabat that is all members of teams - participants of the tournament got gifts.

On completion of the ceremony on the occasion of the significant event the concert was held with participation of children's creative groups of our country.

In the performances young actors glorified the happy life of our independent neutral fatherland, Hero-Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar. Famous foreign children's songs were sung. All this became a creative embodiment of celebration of principles of peace and friendship to which the Turkmen people are invariably attached.

The present «a musical bouquet» for spectators became the potpourri from popular songs of foreign authors.

Turkmen national dance kushtdepdi evoked a great enthusiasm of participants of the celebration.

The song «Türkmenistan - Bitaraplygyň mekany», which glorifies principles of neutrality of our sovereign land and devoted to the motto of this year - «International year of peace and trust» finished the concert.

With enthusiasm having noted that the music holiday presented them unforgettable impressions, foreign participants of the tournament expressed to Hero-Arkadag and Arkadagly Hero Serdar their warm gratitude for hospitality shown on the Turkmen land and high level of organisation and conduction of all events.