Turkmen chess players won five medals-one gold and four bronze-at the Western Asia Youth Championship held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

According to the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan, the competition brought together more than 200 participants from 12 countries, who competed for the titles of the strongest players in age categories under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 years. Turkmenistan was represented by 17 talented players who showed impressive results.

The top prize among girls under 18 in the blitz category was won by one of the most experienced chess players in our country-Leyla Shokhradova (rating 2029). Achieving eight wins and one draw, the 18-year-old student of the 12th grade at Secondary School No. 31 in the Dyanev etrap of Lebap velayat scored 8.5 points and rose to the highest step of the podium.

Ashgabat native Charykekim Charyev (rating 1732) won a bronze medal in the blitz category among boys under 8.

Three more bronze medals in team competitions in classical chess, rapid, and blitz among boys under 10 were won by Maksat Avlyakuliev (rating 1739), Myrat Merdanov (rating 1803), and Didar Hupbiev (rating 1613).