At the Yagshygeldy Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas, as part of the festive event dedicated to the Independence Day of Turkmenistan and the year "Found of Mind of Magtymguly Fragi", an award ceremony for the winners of the checkers competition was held.

The review of fans of this intellectual game was announced by the National Checkers Center of Turkmenistan together with the editorial boards of the newspaper "Nebit-gaz" and the electronic newspaper "Ussatnews".

The competition was held from February 1 to September 5, arousing the interest of people of different professions and ages. Among the participants were employees of ministries and departments, state enterprises and private companies, public organizations, students of schools and universities of the country.

The best contestants were those who solved checkers problems, the tasks for which were published in the newspaper "Nebit-gaz".  The compiler of these tasks was a member of the National Checkers Center of Turkmenistan, a trainer-teacher of the special checkers school of the Balkan region Maksat Durdyev.

It is important to note that the tasks were not easy, so the victory is especially valuable for the participants. In addition to the traditional three winners, the jury decided to award two more distinguished contestants.

 First place was awarded to a 4th-year student of the Turkmen State Energy Institute Shamuhammet Agayev.

Second place was awarded to Arslanbek Atarov, a teacher of the Turkmen State Specialized Music School named after Danatar Ovezov at the Turkmen National Conservatory named after Maya Kulieva.

The third place was taken by Berdymurad Hojamberdiyev, a welder of the specialized department of the trust "Türkmenýöritenebitgazgurnama" of the State Concern "Turkmengas".

The fourth place was awarded to Rustam Atarov, an 8th-grade student of the secondary comprehensive school No. 147 in Ashgabat, and the fifth place was awarded to Kadyr Peshliev, a 5th-year student of the Balkanabat branch of the Yagshygeldy Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas.

The winners were presented with certificates and valuable gifts prepared by the trade union committees of the Balkan region and the State Concern "Turkmennebit".

Famous pop singers of the Cultural and Business Center of the State Concern "Turkmengas" - People's Artist of Turkmenistan Annagul Gurdova, as well as popular vocalists Ahmet Orazgulyyev and Maksat Tuvakov performed at the concert for the participants of the festive event. The creative team of the Yagshygeldy Kakayev International University of Oil and Gas also prepared their bright numbers for the holiday.