The 17th World Chess Olympiad for blind and visually impaired athletes has concluded in the Serbian city of Vrnjačka Banja, where Turkmen chess player Aydogdy Atabayev, FIDE Master candidate, won a bronze medal, becoming the first representative of Turkmenistan to climb the podium at this prestigious competition. This was reported by the online publication ‘Turkmenistan: Golden age’.

Atabayev demonstrated brilliant play, scoring 6 points out of a possible 7. He has five wins and two draws in tense games to his credit. His tournament performance (2353) was particularly impressive, allowing him to outperform many titled opponents from Germany, France and other countries. Only two grandmasters, representing Poland and Spain, finished ahead of him.

The Olympiad, organised by the International Braille Chess Association (IBCA), brought together 22 teams from around the world. The tournament was held according to strict FIDE standards, which emphasises the high level of competition.

Founded in 1958, the IBCA continues to develop inclusive chess, creating opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes. Atabayev's medal is not only a personal achievement but also an important step in promoting chess among people with disabilities in Turkmenistan.