The first professional chess tournament in the history of the Balkan velayat has begun in the resort area of Avaza. The National Tourist Zone on the Caspian coast is hosting the next, 5th stage of the “Grand Prix 2025” series, which has brought together the strongest players in the country from all regions. 95 players are participating in the open category, where women are allowed to compete alongside men, while the women’s category includes 43 participants.

The games are being held in the spacious hall of the Seyrana hotel, where participants are playing 9 rounds according to the Swiss system.

After the first two rounds, 22 participants in the open category and 10 participants in the women’s category have scored 2 points out of 2 possible.

The favorites of the Balkan stage in the open category are: Karen Grigoryan (FIDE rating 2236), chess coach of the Ashgabat Specialized Chess and Checkers School, International Master; Mergen Kakabayev (2223), FIDE Master and Secretary General of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan; Shakhruh Turaev (2197), coach of the women’s national team.

In the women’s category, the clear favorite is Leyla Shohradova (2120), a member of the national team and Woman FIDE Master.

It should be noted that the Grand Prix series, established by the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, is being held for the first time this year. The format includes five tournaments in each of the velayats to determine 16 participants for the final stage, which will take place in Ashgabat in the second half of December. The Grand Prix tournaments are held both among men and separately among women.

Participants earn points at each of the five qualifying (velayat) stages. The final standings count a player’s three best results, which together form their overall Grand Prix rating points. The finalists will be determined by the total score.

The winners of the final tournament in each category will receive direct qualification to the 2026 Higher League of Turkmenistan, which makes each stage of the competition especially important for every participant.

After four stages, the leaders in the overall standings are Amanmukhammet Hommadov from Ashgabat (FIDE rating 2266) in the open category and Gulmira Seyilkhanova (FIDE rating 1930) from Turkmenabat in the women’s category.