On 19–20 August, Ashgabat will host the first-ever ‘Kids Expo Chess Cup 2026’ international chess tournament — a rapid and blitz competition for young chess players in the U8, U10 and U12 categories from more than 15 countries. The tournament will form part of the business and sports programme of the international exhibition and trade fair ‘KIDS EXPO: Everything for Children’, which will take place in the Turkmen capital from 19 to 22 August, according to the news website Turkmenportal.

Young players from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and other countries will compete at the chessboards. The competitions will be held in accordance with the rules of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

In addition to the young participants, representatives of international and national chess federations, grandmasters and champions from Turkey, Jordan, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Japan, Sri Lanka, Syria and Libya will be travelling to Ashgabat. The organisers hope to bring together young chess players, professional players and representatives of the international chess community in one venue to exchange experiences and foster connections within the field of children’s chess.

A supporting programme has been organised for participants and visitors to the exhibition: a free-play area, masterclasses, educational events, presentations and a chess quiz. A separate programme of events has been arranged for teachers, coaches and organisers of chess programmes.

The tournament is organised and supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), the Turkic Chess Association (TCA), the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) programme of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan and TurkmenExpo.

The tournament will take place at the Exhibition Centre of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan and will be the first official international chess competition organised in the country.