#Kazakhstan – International Chess Federation

Kazakhstan’s Chess “Oscar”: KazChess Awards 2026 unites champions, legends, and the nation’s future

editor_d — Wed, 13 May 2026 11:11:11 +0000

At the Hilton Astana in Astana, the KazChess Awards 2026 ceremony brought together world champions, coaches, arbiters, regional leaders, and distinguished guests from the international sports community. In just a few years, this national award has evolved into a true celebration – comparable in scale to the Oscars – except here, the spotlight is on intellect and strategic mastery.

The evening opened with a “Renaissance” performance by the FLAME STARS dance ensemble – a fitting metaphor for the renaissance Kazakhstan’s chess has experienced in recent years. Athletes, coaches, officials, journalists, and patrons filled the hall, reflecting how chess in Kazakhstan has long outgrown its niche status.

The KazChess Awards is more than an annual recognition of the best performers. It is a showcase of systemic transformation launched in January 2023 that has reshaped Kazakhstani chess. The results are measurable: 126 international medals in 2023, 160 in 2024, and 162 in 2025. These achievements form the foundation behind every statuette presented on stage.

High-level representation

A welcome address on behalf of Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, was delivered by Nurtore Zhussip, Chairman of the Committee on Socio-Cultural Development and Science. Awards to para-athletes were presented by Major General Aidar Saitbekov, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

Nominations within the “Chess in Education” program were presented by Sayasat Nurbek, Minister of Science and Higher Education, and Aidos Zholmanov, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Education. The final nominations were announced by Arkady Dvorkovich, President of FIDE. Such representation at a national sports award is rare in any discipline.

The ceremony also featured a congratulatory letter from Olzhas Suleimenov, poet, diplomat, Director of the International Center for the Rapprochement of Cultures under UNESCO. His message emphasized unity, shared responsibility, and chess as a tool for societal development.

International recognition

In his remarks, FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich noted that Kazakhstan has become a model for chess development worldwide, particularly through its youth system and grassroots expansion. These words are supported by data: hundreds of international medals, world team titles, and junior world champions in recent years.

“Over the last few years, Kazakhstan, together with the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, has firmly established itself as one of the key global hubs for chess development – investing in school chess and education as well as in elite events. A huge part of this progress is connected to Timur Turlov and the Freedom Holding Corp., which he founded. Since 2022, Kazakhstan and Freedom have supported some of the biggest events in the global chess calendar – from the 2022 World Rapid & Blitz Championships in Almaty and the 2023 World Championship Match in Astana, to the 2024 WRB Teams as well as the WRB in New York that year, and many other initiatives worldwide. I am confident this is only the beginning. Many more ambitious projects are ahead, and Kazakhstan will continue to play an important role in shaping the future of world chess,” he said.

Vision from the federation

Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, highlighted the philosophy behind the awards: recognition not only of athletes and coaches, but also arbiters, managers, and educators working across the country toward a common goal–strengthening Kazakhstan through chess.

What produces champions: The Young Talents Support Program

A key distinction in Kazakhstan’s approach is between elite sports development and educational outreach.

The Young Talents Support Program for athletes under 16 provides grants, training camps, international exposure, and professional coaching. In 2024, 18 national team players received support totaling 454 million tenge; in 2025, 21 athletes received 425 million tenge. Over three years, Kazakhstani players across age groups have won 448 medals in official international competitions.

Standout achievements include:

Bibisara Assaubayeva – three-time World Blitz Champion
Women’s national team – historic Olympic silver in Budapest 2024
Kazybek Nogerbek – World Junior U20 Champion
Alisha Bisaliyeva – multiple youth world titles
Edgar Mamedov and Mark Smirnov – 2025 youth world champions

Over three years, the federation awarded 5 new Grandmaster and 15 International Master titles.

“Chess in Education”: 1,500 schools and 60,000 children

Separate from elite sports, the “Chess in Education” program focuses on cognitive development for all children.

The state target of 1,400 schools (2023–2027 plan) has already been exceeded: today, more than 1,500 schools and 60,000 students participate nationwide. Some 2,800 primary school teachers have been trained. In the 2025–2026 academic year, 204 students in five pedagogical universities enrolled in a specialized Minor program. Fourteen memorandums have been signed with universities.

In September 2025, Almaty hosted the III International Conference “Chess in Education” with 281 experts discussing chess’s role in the era of digitalization and AI–positioning Kazakhstan among global leaders in this movement.

Emotional highlights of the ceremony

One of the most memorable moments was the presentation of the ‘Hope of the Year’ award, named after Toktar Aubakirov. The award was personally handed to eight-year-old world champion Alisha Bisaliyeva by the first Kazakh cosmonaut himself, prompting a standing ovation.

The “Juniors of the Year” awards were presented by Olympic boxing champion Serik Sapiyev and President of the Kazakhstan Gymnastics Federation Aliya Yussupova.

Special warmth filled the hall during the para-athlete awards. Winners included Erlan Nurkhaev, Aiganim Kambarova, and Nina Zhukovskaya.

Regional emphasis

Awards for the best university, best school, and best regional branch underscore a core principle: chess development extends far beyond the two largest cities. By 2025, the federation had established fully operational branches in all 17 regional centers and three cities of republican significance, supported by centralized funding and reporting.

From the national championship to the awards stage

Notably, many stars arrived directly from the National Classical Chess Championship final, which concluded just hours before the ceremony. The new national champions – 15-year-old Sauat Nurgaliyev and 16-year-old Zarina Nurgaliyeva – represent a generation shaped by this newly built system.

A growing foundation

In three years, the number of award categories has expanded from 9 to 18. This reflects a widening circle of recognition – athletes, educators, arbiters, managers, regional leaders – all contributing to a robust chess ecosystem.

Kazakhstan’s new generation is ambitious and ready to conquer the heights of world chess. This is the principal outcome not only of one evening but of several years of deliberate, systemic work to develop chess nationwide.

Full List of Laureates – KazChess Awards 2026

Special Athlete (Visual Impairment) – Erlan Nurkhaev
Special Athlete (Mobility Impairment) – Aiganim Kambarova
Special Athlete (Hearing Impairment) – Nina Zhukovskaya
Junior of the Year (Boys U18) – Edgar Mamedov
Junior of the Year (Girls U18) – Elnaz Kaliakhmet
Best Veterans – Marat Primbetov, Inna Matveeva-Popruikalo
Best KCF Branch – Kazakhstan Chess Federation Almaty Branch
Best Young Arbiter – Akzhan Shopanov
Chess Ambassador of the Year – Aliya Ashim and Danil Lee
Media Partner of the Year – Evraziya TV (Almira Kulmukhamedova)
Best Coordinator of the “Chess in Education” Program – Gulnur Aitimova (Astana, School-Lyceum No. 8)
Best University of the “Chess in Education” Program – Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University
Best Teacher of the “Chess in Education” Program –
Meruert Temirova (Astana, BINOM School) and
Oryntai Sarkytbekova (Semey, School No. 27)
Team of the Year (Olzhas Suleimenov Prize) – Team KazChess, FIDE World Team Blitz Vice-Champions:
Darmen Sadvakasov,
Aldiyar Ansat,
Meruert Kamalidenova,
Elnaz Kaliakhmet,
Islam Aiten;
Team Captain – Gulmira Dauletova
Hope of the Year (Toktar Aubakirov Prize) – Alisha Bisaliyeva
Employee of the Year – Raushan Kulakhmetova
Best Female Athlete of the Year (Anatoly Ufimtsev Prize) – Bibisara Assaubayeva
Best Male Athlete of the Year (Anatoly Ufimtsev Prize) – Aldiyar Ansat

Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Federation / lk-studio

Kazakhstan Championship: Sauat Nurgaliyev and Zarina Nurgalieva capture titles

editor_d — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:00:09 +0000

15-year-old IM Sauat Nurgaliyev and 16-year-old WIM Zarina Nurgalieva (no relation) are the newly crowned Kazakhstan chess champions, both winning their maiden national titles.

The 2026 Kazakhstan Championship, held in open and women’s sections, took place in Astana from May 2–12. Both competitions were 14-player round-robins with classical time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment). Both competitions served as qualifiers for the national teams to represent Kazakhstan at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

The open section proved exceptionally tight, as most participants were closely matched in rating. After Round 8, as many as three players – IM Zhandos Agmanov, the 2025 champion GM Kazybek Nogerbek, and Nurgaliyev – were sharing the lead on 5.5/8. A pivotal moment came in Round 9: Agmanov and Nogerbek split a point in their game, while Nurgaliyev defeated Vladislav Malygin and seized the sole lead, a position he maintained to the very end.

Heading into the final round, a full point ahead of his closest rivals, Nurgaliyev made a quick draw with FM Dinmukhammed Tulendinov and secured the title with a score of 9/13. Agmanov pulled off a final-round victory and finished just a half-point behind the champion, becoming a three-time silver medalist. Notably, both the champion and the runner-up completed the event unbeaten.

Heading into the final round a full point ahead of his closest rivals, Nurgaliyev made a quick draw with FM Dinmukhammed Tulendinov and secured the title with a score of 9/13. Agmanov pulled off a final-round victory and finished just a half-point behind the champion. Notably, both the champion and the runner-up completed the event unbeaten.

Three players tied for third place on 8/13, with GM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov taking bronze based on his superior Sonneborn-Berger tiebreaker.

Final standings – Open

The women’s competition was even more thrilling, as four participants – WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva, WIM Zarina Nurgalieva, the 2025 champion WIM Elnaz Kaliakhmet, and IM Meruert Kamalidenova – all crossed the finish line on 9/13, resulting in a four-way tie for the first place. The rapid single round-robin that followed failed to produce a clear winner the winner: Nurgalieva and Kamalidenova both scored 2/3 forcing a two-game blitz tiebreaker.

Nurgalieva dominated both games, recording a 2–0 victory to claim the national title.

Final standings – Women

Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

Kazybek Nogerbek and Elnaz Kaliyahmet crowned new champions of Kazakhstan

editor_d — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 22:46:39 +0000

Kazybek Nogerbek and Elnaz Kaliyahmet emerged as the winners of the 2025 Kazakhstan Championship, each claiming their maiden national titles. Notably, both champions completed their tournaments unbeaten.

The 2025 Kazakhstan Championships (Open and Women’s sections) took place in the capital, Astana, from May 21 to June 1. Both competitions, featuring a total prize fund of 20 million tenge (approximately USD 39,150), were 14-player round-robin tournaments played under classical time control.

The Open event turned into an exciting race between the two top seeds, Kazybek Nogerbek and Denis Makhnev. Both started strong and seized the lead early on, but in Round 8, Makhnev suffered a setback, losing to IM Abilmansur Abdilkhair and falling behind.

Heading into the final (13th) round, Nogerbek held a half-point lead over his main rival. He opted for a quick draw, while Makhnev scored a crucial win over FM Yerlan Tleukhanov, tying for first place.

A tiebreaker was played to determine the champion, where Kazybek Nogerbek ultimately prevailed in the decisive Armageddon game to capture the title. IM Aldiyar Ansat completed the podium, taking bronze.

Final Standings – Open

In the Women’s event, 14-year-old Elnaz Kaliyahmet delivered an impressive performance, scoring 10/14 to finish clear first. She became the youngest champion in the history of Kazakhstan, breaking a record that had stood since 1998.

Zaroma Nurgalieva gave the young champion a strong challenge but, but lost two games at the start and finished half a point behind Kaliyahmet. Top seed Meruert Kamalidenova secured the bronze medal.

Final Standings – Women

Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Federation

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships: Registration deadline extended

KN — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:10:22 +0000

The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, are rapidly approaching, and excitement is already in the air. With the registration deadline (July 12) drawing near, teams from around the world are urged to act quickly to secure their spot in this prestigious event. It promises to be an exhilarating experience for both players and spectators alike.

Big names and teams ready to compete

The tournament will feature some of the biggest names and strongest teams in the chess world. Teams such as China Team for 10 years with stars like World Champions Wenjun Ju and Ding Liren, and WR Chess Team boasting Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Hou Yifan have already confirmed their participation. Other notable teams include ALAIN ACMG UAE with Daniil Dubov and Vladimir Fedoseev, and ASHDOD CHESS CLUB with Nihal Sarin and Pavel Eljanov.

Hisham Al Taher, team director of one of the rating-favorite teams, ALAIN ACMG UAE, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: “The World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships in Astana is shaping up to be an extraordinary event. The combination of rapid and blitz formats in a team setting offers a unique and thrilling experience. I’m excited to lead my team and compete against some of the best players in the world. The camaraderie and competitive spirit will make this a memorable championship.”

Another star player, Arjun Erigaisi from Team MGD1, shared his excitement: “Team events are generally a lot of fun, and the same goes for World Rapid and Blitz. The event in Astana is basically combining those two, so it will be an ultimate delight! I look forward to it.”

GM Anna Muzychuk of Chessy echoed this sentiment: “I look forward to the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Astana. It’s a competition of top players, but also an opportunity for non-professionals to meet and even play the biggest legends of our game. I believe such an amazing format will bring fun and keep the tension until the very last moment.”

Format

The 5 days of chess will feature two formats:

Rapid Tournament: A 12-round Swiss system with a time control of 15 minutes per game plus a 10-second increment per move.

Blitz Tournament: The Blitz tournament is divided into two stages. In Stage 1, teams are grouped into pools and play a round-robin format. The top 16 teams advance to Stage 2, which is a knockout stage. The time control is 3 minutes per game with a 2-second increment per move.

The total prize fund for the event is a staggering €350,000 euros, with €250,000 allocated for the Rapid Tournament and €100,000 for the Blitz Tournament. In addition to financial rewards, members of the top three teams in each category will receive medals.

Exciting side events

In addition to the main tournament, KazChess has organized several side events to enhance the overall experience for participants and spectators. The highlight will be the FIDE torch relay, featuring many distinguished guests, including Kazakhstani sports stars, celebrities, and national authorities. This event aims to celebrate the spirit of chess and bring the community together in a festive atmosphere.

We invite teams from around the world to join us in Astana for an unforgettable event. Register now and compete with the best in the world!

For more details and to register, visit the official website.

26th Asian Youth Chess Championships conclude in Almaty, Kazakhstan

KN — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:26:18 +0000

The 26th Asian Youth Chess Championships, held June 10-20, 2024, at the Almaty Sports Palace in Kazakhstan, came to a successful close. Setting a record for participant numbers in an international chess event hosted by Kazakhstan, the competition attracted 650 young players aged 7 to 18 from 33 countries. The youngsters battled it out in all time controls: standard, rapid, and blitz.

The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Asian Chess Federation, the Akimat of Almaty, and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation. Freedom Holding Corp. is the general partner of the championships.

Kazakh chess players emerged victorious, winning the first team place. Competing against top juniors from leading chess countries such as India, China, and Iran, they secured 25 medals, including 12 gold.

The closing ceremony featured by KazChess President Timur Turlov, Almaty City Mayor Beibut Shakhanov, Secretary General of the Asian Chess Federation Hisham Al-Tahera, FIDE Management Board Executive Director Viktor Bologan, and other dignitaries.

“This tournament is of great significance for our country, reflecting the trust of the global chess community. For the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, it was a test of our professionalism. Judging by the number of awards won by our players and the positive feedback from participants from 33 countries, we passed this test with flying colors,” said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, who personally congratulated the winners at the closing ceremony.

Participants hailed from various parts of Asia, from Iran to New Zealand. Besides the Kazakh team, which won medals in all three time controls (12 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze), other notable winners included FIDE (9 gold medals), India (5 gold medals), Vietnam (3 gold), Iran (3 gold), China (1 gold), Mongolia (1 gold), Kyrgyzstan (1 gold), and the Philippines (1 gold). Three participants achieved double victories in both standard and rapid: Narayani Umesh Maratha (G08) from India, Anna Shukhman (G18, FIDE), and Kazakhstan’s Aldiyar Ansat (U18). Besides the overall team standings, 36 gold medals were awarded across boys’ and girls’ categories in six age groups and three time controls (rapid, standard, and blitz).

At the closing ceremony, the newly crowned World Junior Chess Champion, Kazybek Nogerbek, was also honored. In a remarkable gesture, KazChess President Timur Turlov announced a “golden package” of support worth 30 million tenge, presented Kazybek with the keys to an electric car and personally congratulated him on his remarkable victory, marking a new chapter in the history of Kazakh chess.

The 26th Youth Championship was held with a focus on environmental friendliness and sustainable development. All plastic used at the tournament was recycled, with participants even contributing by using a unique bicycle shredder. Notably, the championship winners’ cups were also crafted from recycled plastic.

Beyond the intense competition, the championship offered participants opportunities to explore Almaty’s natural beauty by hiking at Shymbulak.

The Kazakhstan Chess Federation also organized master classes with Moldavian grandmaster and FIDE executive director Viсtor Bologan and Kazakh grandmaster Alisher Suleimenov as well as other leisure activities.

Official website of the event: aycc2024.kazchess.kz

Press releases and photos of the 26th Asian Youth Championship can be found here.

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships: Registration continues

KN — Mon, 20 May 2024 12:08:59 +0000

The chess world is abuzz with excitement as the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024 are set to take place in the vibrant capital city of Kazakhstan from August 1 to 6, 2024. Following the success of the inaugural event in Düsseldorf, Germany, last year, this year’s championships promise to be even bigger and better with the addition of a Blitz competition.

This year’s championships will gather some of the world’s top chess professionals, including former World Champion Magnus Carlsen, who will lead WR Team in defending their title. Both current World Champions Ju Wenjun and Ding Liren will also be playing, and their participation underscores the event’s prestige and promises an exciting experience for both players and fans.

Photo: Niki Riga

Format

The 5 days of chess will feature two formats:

Rapid Tournament: A 12-round Swiss system with a time control of 15 minutes per game plus a 10-second increment per move.

The total prize fund for the event is a staggering 350,000 euros, with 250,000 euros allocated for the Rapid Tournament and 100,000 euros for the Blitz Tournament. In addition to financial rewards, members of the top three teams in each category will receive medals.

Registration

Registration for the event is now open and will close on July 1, 2024, at 12 PM Lausanne time. Teams must comprise 6 to 9 players, including at least one female player and one recreational player (rated below 2000 Elo).

Don’t miss the chance to compete against the best – register your team now to secure a spot in this prestigious tournament.

To register, visit the official event website and complete the registration form. Remember, only 80 teams will be accepted, with priority given to the highest average ratings and earliest registrations.

Venue

Astana is ready to welcome the world’s best chess teams. With its modern infrastructure and rich cultural heritage, the city provides the perfect backdrop for this world-class event. Teams will enjoy the hospitality and vibrant atmosphere of Kazakhstan’s capital and will appreciate the state-of-the-art QazExpo Congress venue.

Accommodation Lottery

Special offers in the official hotels for the tournament are valid until June 1, 2024. The first 10 teams to book will participate in Accommodation Draw 1, with the winner receiving a full refund and free accommodation. The first 30 teams (excluding the winner of Draw 1) will enter Accommodation Draw 2, where two teams will receive a 50% refund.

For more information, visit the official website and follow our social media channels for the latest updates.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of chess history in Astana this August. Register now and let the games begin!

Registration link: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/registration

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/

Registration for media: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/mediaregistration

World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships: Registration is open

KN — Mon, 06 May 2024 12:28:00 +0000

The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024, organized by the International Chess Federation and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in partnership with Freedom Holding, will be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, between August 1 and 6.

The second edition of the Championships will consist of a 12-round Swiss tournament played over three days under rapid time control (August 2-4) and a one-day blitz championship (August 5). The event, with a prize fund of €350,000, is open to squads from all over the world.

Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President: “Following the success of the inaugural event last year in Dusseldorf, I am thrilled that we are now preparing for the second edition of this tournament, which is on its way of becoming a regular feature in the calendar of top global FIDE events.

In our strive to diversify chess events and formats and increase opportunities for non-professional players, the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships – where many amateurs of different chess skills have a chance to take part – is an excellent example of that ambition.

FIDE and the chess world are very fortunate to have the likes of Freedom Holding and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation helping organize and fund this event. In recent years both have done a lot to support and promote chess in Kazakhstan but also in Asia and globally, and we thank them for that.”

Create your own team from your club members, members of different federations or your favourite chess players. Registration is open via the following link: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/registration

Team composition:

Each team shall be composed in accordance with the following requirements:

A. At least six and not more than nine players, including at least:

a. one female player,

b. one player, other than the one indicated in the previous point, who never achieved FIDE Standard, Rapid or Blitz Rating of 2000 Elo points (or unrated) up to and including the July 2024 rating lists,

B. A captain, who may also be one of the players.

Teams are required to register at least six players meeting the requirements by 1 July 2024. Three more players may be added at any time until 12pm Lausanne time, 25 July 2024.

Among those who have already confirmed their participation in the event the world’s top-rated chess player (and holder of the world titles in Rapid and Blitz) Magnus Carlsen. World #1 will strengthen WR Team, which won the inaugural edition, and is ready to defend their title and try to take the first team crown in the Blitz.

Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding Corp. and President of Kazakhstan Chess Federation: “Over the past few years, Freedom Holding Corp. has been a sponsor of the largest and most milestone events in the chess world, and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation has significantly enhanced its partnership with FIDE during this period. Investments have a positive impact on chess popularization in the world and human capital development. I believe that having one more spectacular chess event in our nation’s capital will help elevate the status of Kazakhstan in the chess world and further charge the already growing interest in chess among our people. As we prepare to welcome teams from across the world, we extend our gratitude to FIDE for their collaboration and bringing another chess spectacle to this part of the world.”

Now that the registration for the event is officially open, FIDE is looking forward to the teams and players who will take part in a chess spectacle this summer in Astana.

Regulations for the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship: handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/WRTC2024Regulations.pdf

Registration form: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com/registration

Official website: worldrapidblitzteams.fide.com

Aktobe Open – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial announced

KN — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 01:43:28 +0000

The Kazakhstan Chess Federation invites you to participate in the International Chess Tournament Aktobe Open 2024, dedicated to the memory of Vladimir Dvorkovich, a renowned arbiter and prominent figure in the chess world.

The tournament is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The general partner is Freedom Holding Corp. while Aktobe Copper Company acts as a partner of the competition.

Dates: from May 24 (day of arrival) to June 3 (day of departure).

Location: ACE Tennis Club, 2, Mangilik El St., Aktobe.

The Aktobe Open will be held in two sections:

Masters Tournament for GM, FM, IM, WGM, WIM, and WFM ranked 2400 and above (men) and 2200 and above (women) as of May 1, 2024.

The organizing committee provides support only for invited athletes with a rating above 2600 as of May 1, 2024 (the list of invited participants is formed by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation).

Open Tournament is for players rated 1800 – 2399 as of May 1, 2024.

Both events are 9-round Swiss tournaments with classical time control (90 minutes + 30 seconds increment).

The guaranteed prize fund for the Masters Tournament is 45,000,000 KZT (approximately $100,000), with 9,000,000 KZT (approximately $20,000) going to a winner. Special prizes will be awarded to the three best women and three best Kazakhstani players.

The guaranteed prize fund for the Open Tournament is 4,550,000 KZT. Special prizes will be awarded to the best women, veterans (born in 1964 or earlier), and boys and girls under 14 and under 10.

Applications for participation in tournaments are submitted on the website of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation: kazchess.kz/pay

Regulations for Aktobe Open – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial (pdf)

World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships 2024 to take place in August

KN — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 11:37:53 +0000

FIDE is proud to announce the second edition of the World Team Championship, which will this time also include a World Blitz Team Championship

Following the success of the inaugural tournament held in Dusseldorf (Germany) in August 2023, the second event aims to bring more excitement and drama with the inclusion of the Blitz competition.

“We are very excited that this event is going into its second season and that we have also added another competition to the format, making it even more exciting. Alongside the World Corporate Championship we are organizing this year, the World Rapid and Blitz Team events are another example of FIDE’s continued investment in promoting chess to different audiences,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

The tournament will be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, between August 1 and 6, and is expected to bring together a number of top world professionals and chess lovers, as was the case in the first edition in Dusseldorf in 2023.

Each team must have at least six but no more than nine players. Among them, they have to have at least one woman player as well as a player who has never achieved a 2000 Elo Rating, in either Rapid or Blitz, up to and including on the July 2024 FIDE rating list.

In a significant promotional boost for the event, former world champion Magnus Carlsen – who is also the world’s top-rated chess player (and holder of the world titles in Rapid and Blitz) – will also be playing in the Championships. World #1 will strengthen WR Team, which won the inaugural edition, and is ready to defend their title and try to take the first team crown in the Blitz.

Photo: Anna Shtourman

The event will be broadcast live online with star commentators and special guests.

Prizes

The World Rapid and Blitz Championship features a total prize fund of 350,000 Euros (380,000 US dollars), with 250,000 allocated for the Rapid and 100,000 for the Blitz.

Apart from the financial rewards, every member of the top three placed teams (players and captains) will receive a medal.

Format and Time Control

The Rapid and Blitz tournaments will be played under different pairing regulations. The Rapid tournament will consist of 12 rounds played under the Swiss system, with a time control of 15 minutes and a 10-second increment per move. The Blitz tournament will have two stages: in the first stage, teams will be grouped into pools based on their strength. Each pool shall play a round-robin tournament with no more than seven rounds. From this stage, 16 teams will qualify for the second phase – the knockout tournament. The time control for the Blitz will be three minutes for the whole game with an increment of two seconds per move, starting from move one.

The scoring system in both competitions will be based on matchpoints: a win scores two points, a draw scores one point, and a loss scores zero points.

The full regulations of the event can be found here.

Registration

Registration will start soon and will be open until July 1, 2024, 12 PM Lausanne time. A maximum of 80 teams can take part (10 teams with the highest average ratings and the remaining 70 teams will be selected based on the earliest registrations).

Continued support from Freedom Holding

The main partner of the event will be Freedom Holding, which has in recent years sponsored several top chess events and brought them to Kazakhstan in an effort to develop the country’s chess potential.

“We are delighted to partner with FIDE in making this event possible. Our commitment to chess continues in 2024 with our ambition to promote the game globally but also in Kazakhstan, where we have helped organize and sponsor a number of events in recent years,” said Timur Turlov, CEO of Freedom Holding and the head of Kazakhstan Chess Federation.

About Freedom Holding Corp.

Freedom Holding Corp. is a US-based financial services holding company. Through its operating subsidiaries, Freedom Holding provides services like retail securities brokerage, research, investment counselling, securities trading, market-making, retail banking, corporate investment banking and underwriting services in Eurasia. The Company has retail locations in the USA, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, UAE, Germany, Great Britain, France, Spain and Poland.

In Kazakhstan, the company is developing a digital ecosystem under the Freedom brand. The ecosystem already provides services in the field of investment banking and stock market brokerage, digital banking, online insurance, telecommunications, air and event ticket sales, digital car service, smartphone sales and other areas.

Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange in New York under the ticker symbol FRHC. The activities of the company are regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Official website: freedomholdingcorp.com
Website of the digital ecosystem: ecosystem.ffin.kz/en

Kazakhstani Championship 2023: Ansat and Balabayeva win maiden titles

KN — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 22:30:23 +0000

IM Aldiyar Ansat and WIM Xeniya Balabayeva are the new champions of Kazakhstan. Both won their first national titles. The 2023 Kazakhstani Championship took place in Astana from December 13-24.

The open event, a 14-player round-robin, turned into an extremely tight competition. Suffice it to say that as many as five participants scored 8/13 and tied for first place, with neither player completing the event unbeaten.

According to the Championship Regulations, GMs Denis Makhnev, Alisher Suleymenov, IMs Arystanbek Urazayev, Aldiyar Ansat, and FM Abilmansur Abdilkhair played a rapid tie-breaker to determine the winner and medalists.

On paper, the two GMs, Makhnev and Suleimenov, had a better shot at the title, but the young IM Aldiyar Ansat defied all the odds. After winning his first two games, he held his ground against GMs and secured the national title. Arystanbek Urazaev (Aktobe) and Denis Makhnev (Pavlodar) took silver and bronze respectively.

Final standings open (after 13 rounds):

1	GM	Makhnev, Denis	2486	8
2	GM	Suleymenov, Alisher	2513	8
3	IM	Urazayev, Arystanbek	2472	8
4	IM	Ansat, Aldiyar	2434	8
5	FM	Abdilkhair, Abilmansur	2255	8
6	FM	Sapenov, Daniyal	2350	7½
7	IM	Nogerbek, Kazybek	2483	7½
8	IM	Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan	2493	7
9	IM	Isanzhulov, Arystan	2407	7
10		Utegaliyev, Azamat	2416	6½
11	IM	Agmanov, Zhandos	2460	5½
12	GM	Kazhgaleyev, Murtas	2490	5
13		Amirali, Abzal	2136	3½
14		Tkachyov, Adil	2078	1½

WIM Xeniya Balabayeva (pictured below) dominated the women’s event, a 10-player round-robin, winning direct encounters with her main rivals and scoring an impressive 7.5/9. Coming into the final round, Xseniya needed just a draw to win gold, and she confidently accomplished the task, clinching the title.

The top-seed Alua Nurmanova finished a full point behind the champion and earned silver. As many as three participants tied for third place on 5/9, with Madina Davletbayeva claiming bronze thanks to a superior Sonneborn-Berger.

Final standings women:

1	WIM	Balabayeva, Xeniya	2244	7½
2	WIM	Nurmanova, Alua	2326	6½
3	WGM	Davletbayeva, Madina	2216	5
4	FM	Kurmangaliyeva, Liya	2261	5
5	WIM	Sultanbek, Zeinep	2008	5
6		Kaldarova, Ayaulym	2015	4½
7	WIM	Serikbay, Assel	2186	4
8	WIM	Kairbekova, Amina	2235	4
9		Popandopulo, Kristina	1865	2½
10	WCM	Kim, Kristina	1933	1

Official website: kazchess.kz/

Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Facebook Page