Kakabayev, Mergen

Mergen Kakabayev, a 29-year-old Turkmen FIDE Master, is rated 2247 and ranked 8th among Turkmen players, and in the top 3% worldwide. He is on a steady climb with +79 Elo over the past 12 months. 49 rated games in the past year (≈24/year long-term). Recent standard appearances include Russian Chess Crown standard A, GRAND-PRIX TKM CHESS FEDERATION OPEN (FINAL), and GRAN-PRIX TKF OPEN - (TURKMENBASHI). Also played 2 rapid (including Russian Chess Crown rapid B (27.02)) and 1 blitz events (including Russian Chess Crown blitz C) recently. He had 4 career breaks: 15 months (2012–2014), 14 months (2018–2019), 38 months (2019–2022, COVID-19 included) and 13 months (2023–2024). His peak of 2355 was reached at age 21 (Jan 2018); he also reached Turkmen #5 in Jun 2024 and has been in Turkmen top 10 for 90 months and counting (6 consecutive years on his current run).

Awarded FM in 2016 (age 19). Earned IM norms at VAO16_6a 2016, Budapest Spring Festival 2017, and The Champ of Turkmenistan 2017 (final stage). At junior level, he reached #1, #1 and #2 nationally in U20, U18 and U16.