THE BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP OF CHESS COMMUNITY OF TURKMENISTAN AND ARMENIA

On 1 May 2020, a video conference of the chess community of Turkmenistan and the Republic of Armenia was held, in which prominent representatives of the world of chess from two friendly countries, Chess Federations and chess academies, masters of sports in chess, coaches, international FIDE judges and coaches, grandmasters and old friends met who once played in different matches against each other. The Turkmen side was headed by the Chairman of the National Chess Federation of Turkmenistan Myratdurdy Hashayev, and the Armenian side was headed by the First vice-president of the Chess Federation of Armenia, Director of the Chess Academy of Armenia Smbat Lputian.

The video meeting which was held in a very friendly atmosphere, mainly covered educational processes, the training of chess teachers and trainers, raised the issue of preparing and signing a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Federations of the two countries, as well as methods of online chess teaching.

It was emphasized that since 2011 chess has become a compulsory subject in grades 2-4 of secondary schools in Armenia, and that since childhood, chess has taught a child to make independent decisions and assess the situation. The ancient game forms and develops the thinking of the child, helps the development of a creative personality. Armenian colleagues also reported that the world's first Center for Educational Research on Chess was established on the basis of the H. Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University. According to the research of the center, this wise game serves as a locomotive for the development of various psychological processes, and the results of numerous studies show that chess and academic performance are interconnected. There are also studies proving that the introduction of the subject of "chess" in the curriculum of schools contributes to the development of children's thinking, including strategic one. Students learn to make quick decisions; they develop a sense of responsibility. To the question of the Turkmen side, where one can get acquainted with the developments, find literature and information about these studies, the Doctor of psychological sciences, professor, vice-rector for scientific work of the Armenian State Pedagogical University, member of the Scientific Council of the Research Institute Chess Srbuhi Gevorgyan said that they would be happy to share with their materials, research results, information on the introduction of chess in the general educational process, materials on the differentiation of curricula.

During the friendly video meeting, it was mutually agreed to launch a new format of cooperation on the exchange of experience in teaching methods online, the training of teachers and trainers on the basis of pedagogical universities and participation in open tournaments of the two fraternal countries.

At the end of discussions on teaching topics, an exchange of views took place on issues of interest to those gathered, namely, Armenian grandmaster Samvel Ter-Sahakyan shared some of his secrets of mastership.

Turkmen chess players proudly informed their Armenian colleagues that the new Chess Academy in Ashgabat which was received as a gift from the Head of State. In particular, the Academy has two tournament halls for 100 and 200 students, 10 computer and 25 training classes, a store for chess attributes, a library, rooms for analyzing games, a museum, and office of the Chess Federation of Turkmenistan. The Turkmen side cordially invited their Armenian counterpart to visit Turkmenistan.

At the end of the conference participants expressed a common desire to start and strengthen cooperation between the two chess communities by establishing a bridge of friendship in the world of chess.