{"id":39569,"date":"2025-10-22T20:27:17","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T20:27:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/?p=39569"},"modified":"2025-10-22T20:30:37","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T20:30:37","slug":"2nd-fide-olympiad-for-people-with-disabilities-reaches-its-midpoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/2nd-fide-olympiad-for-people-with-disabilities-reaches-its-midpoint\/","title":{"rendered":"2nd FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities reaches its midpoint"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana has reached its half-way mark \u2013 the equator of this inspiring event. With Round 3 underway, the excitement and determination in the playing hall grow stronger each day.<\/p>

The first ceremonial move of the round was made by Dinara Naumova, Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, together with Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director.<\/p>

\u201cBefore the first move, I spoke with the contestants \u2013 they were positive and confident. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the team spirit is inspiring,\u201d said Dinara Naumova.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cIt\u2019s an honour for Kazakhstan to host this event. I wish every player success and the strength to never give up. Team spirit makes us stronger.\u201d<\/p>

Her words perfectly captured the spirit of the event \u2013 one of unity, resilience, and shared joy.<\/p>

The strength and spirit of the players<\/strong><\/p>

Every participant at this Olympiad has a remarkable story. For them, every move on the board represents persistence, focus, and the triumph of the human spirit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Luisa Molina, from Team Colombia, shared her joy at being part of this inclusive event:<\/p>

\u201cThis Olympiad for People with Disabilities has been one of the best experiences we’ve ever had! This isn’t your usual event \u2013 it provides a space for inclusion.\u201d<\/p>

Aryan Joshi from India, a first-time participant, was full of enthusiasm and optimism:<\/p>

\u201cFeeling amazing \u2013 this is my first Olympiad for people with disabilities. Despite disabilities, despite the challenges on and off the board, everyone here is giving their best. Everyone is very friendly and very happy. Disability is not something that makes us less \u2013 we are differently able, not disabled.\u201d<\/p>

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Niloy Chakraborty, a coach for players with hearing impairments and an accompanying person at the event, emphasized the importance of opportunity:<\/p>
\u201cI\u2019ve worked with disabled students for a long time. I\u2019ve shown them tournaments, helped them find opportunities, and organized many events for differently able teams. Here, everyone can participate \u2013 and they do, as equals.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Eugenio Campos, representing the IPCA team, coming from Angola, shared how chess became part of his life from a very young age:<\/p>
\u201cThis is a well-organized event; it gives us, players with disabilities, the opportunity to play against others from different countries. I thank IPCA, FIDE, and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. I started chess when I was five \u2013 my cousin taught me, and since then, chess has meant a lot to me.<\/p>
Most of my life, I\u2019ve played chess \u2013 it\u2019s everything to me.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Another remarkable player of IPCA team is IM Igor Yarmonov from Ukraine, a five-time IPCA World Champion and International Master of both chess and chess composition. His wife and accompanying person, Galina Yarmonova shared:<\/p>
\u201cWe are grateful to all the organisers, volunteers, and staff for the wonderful atmosphere in Astana, for the excellent conditions for the players and their companions \u2013 everything is of the highest standard! This is our first time at such an Olympiad, and we thank the referees and volunteers for their kind, individual approach to each player.\u201d<\/p>
\u201cThroughout Igor\u2019s life, chess has helped him overcome challenges and see the world \u2013 and we are happy to represent this big chess family,\u201d she added.<\/p>
Even after the event, Igor continues contributing to the chess world as a judge for multi-move problems in the FIDE Album \u2013 evaluating compositions from around the globe.<\/p>
Inspiration beyond the board<\/strong><\/p>
Every player finds their own motivation to keep going, and we asked, \u201cWho is your favourite chess player in history?\u201d Answers came quickly and with admiration: Magnus Carlsen, Jos\u00e9 Capablanca, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fischer, and Mikhail Tal were among the most mentioned.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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But one response stood out. Jes\u00fas Osorio from Panama said:<\/p>
\u201cMy favourite chess player is not a famous person, but he is a very good chess player \u2013 my friend Osvaldo Herrera Graham.\u201d<\/p>
A beautiful reminder that inspiration doesn\u2019t only come from world champions, but also from those who encourage us personally \u2013 friends, coaches, and loved ones who share the same passion.<\/p>
The battle for the top<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Position of the day<\/strong><\/p>
Today\u2019s Position of the Day came from the exciting battle between Syed Ejaz Husain (Bangladesh) and Ben Kaufmann (Germany).<\/p>
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Although Black\u2019s position was slightly worse, they could still defend with 20…Nd6, trading off White\u2019s active knight on f5. Instead, 20…Ne6?? was played, ignoring of White\u2019s mounting kingside pressure.<\/p>
White immediately took advantage with 21. Ne5!, and after 21…Ra6?!, taking no heed of danger, came 22. Qg4 \u2014 launching a decisive attack. Black tried 22…Kh7, defeinding h6, but the storm was already breaking.<\/p>
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White delivered a stunning blow 23. Nxh6!!, a brilliant sacrifice that ripped open Black\u2019s kingside. After 23…gxh6 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Ng6#, it was checkmate.<\/p>
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This brilliant finish reminds us of one of the great lessons of chess \u2014 and life: sometimes, you must take risks and trust your calculation. Evaluating, understanding, and acting with courage can lead to victory both on and off the board.<\/p>
Looking ahead<\/strong><\/p>
As the Olympiad crosses its midpoint, the energy in Astana continues to rise. Every player here proves that chess is not only a sport of the mind, but a triumph of spirit, inclusion, and shared humanity.<\/p>
The standings after Round 3 and pairings for Round 4 can be found here: 
Chess Results \u2013 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities<\/a><\/strong><\/p>
Official website:\u00a0dis-olympiad2025.fide.com\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana has reached its half-way mark \u2013 the equator of this inspiring event. With Round 3 underway, the excitement and determination in the playing hall grow stronger each day. The first ceremonial move of the round was made by Dinara Naumova, Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, together with Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director. \u201cBefore the first move, I spoke with the contestants \u2013 they were positive and confident. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the team spirit is inspiring,\u201d said Dinara Naumova. \u201cIt\u2019s an honour for Kazakhstan to host this event. I wish every player success and the strength to never give up. Team spirit makes us stronger.\u201d Her words perfectly captured the spirit of the event \u2013 one of unity, resilience, and shared joy. The strength and spirit of the players Every participant at this Olympiad has a remarkable story. For them, every move on the board represents persistence, focus, and the triumph of the human spirit. Luisa Molina, from Team Colombia, shared her joy at being part of this inclusive event: \u201cThis Olympiad for People with Disabilities has been one of the best experiences we’ve ever had! This isn’t your usual event \u2013 it provides a space for inclusion.\u201d Aryan Joshi from India, a first-time participant, was full of enthusiasm and optimism: \u201cFeeling amazing \u2013 this is my first Olympiad for people with disabilities. Despite disabilities, despite the challenges on and off the board, everyone here is giving their best. Everyone is very friendly and very happy. Disability is not something that makes us less \u2013 we are differently able, not disabled.\u201d Niloy Chakraborty, a coach for players with hearing impairments and an accompanying person at the event, emphasized the importance of opportunity: \u201cI\u2019ve worked with disabled students for a long time. I\u2019ve shown them tournaments, helped them find opportunities, and organized many events for differently able teams. Here, everyone can participate \u2013 and they do, as equals.\u201d Eugenio Campos, representing the IPCA team, coming from Angola, shared how chess became part of his life from a very young age: \u201cThis is a well-organized event; it gives us, players with disabilities, the opportunity to play against others from different countries. I thank IPCA, FIDE, and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. I started chess when I was five \u2013 my cousin taught me, and since then, chess has meant a lot to me. Most of my life, I\u2019ve played chess \u2013 it\u2019s everything to me.\u201d Another remarkable player of IPCA team is IM Igor Yarmonov from Ukraine, a five-time IPCA World Champion and International Master of both chess and chess composition. His wife and accompanying person, Galina Yarmonova shared: \u201cWe are grateful to all the organisers, volunteers, and staff for the wonderful atmosphere in Astana, for the excellent conditions for the players and their companions \u2013 everything is of the highest standard! This is our first time at such an Olympiad, and we thank the referees and volunteers for their kind, individual approach to each player.\u201d \u201cThroughout Igor\u2019s life, chess has helped him overcome challenges and see the world \u2013 and we are happy to represent this big chess family,\u201d she added. Even after the event, Igor continues contributing to the chess world as a judge for multi-move problems in the FIDE Album \u2013 evaluating compositions from around the globe. Inspiration beyond the board Every player finds their own motivation to keep going, and we asked, \u201cWho is your favourite chess player in history?\u201d Answers came quickly and with admiration: Magnus Carlsen, Jos\u00e9 Capablanca, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fischer, and Mikhail Tal were among the most mentioned. But one response stood out. Jes\u00fas Osorio from Panama said: \u201cMy favourite chess player is not a famous person, but he is a very good chess player \u2013 my friend Osvaldo Herrera Graham.\u201d A beautiful reminder that inspiration doesn\u2019t only come from world champions, but also from those who encourage us personally \u2013 friends, coaches, and loved ones who share the same passion. The battle for the top Position of the day Today\u2019s Position of the Day came from the exciting battle between Syed Ejaz Husain (Bangladesh) and Ben Kaufmann (Germany). Although Black\u2019s position was slightly worse, they could still defend with 20…Nd6, trading off White\u2019s active knight on f5. Instead, 20…Ne6?? was played, ignoring of White\u2019s mounting kingside pressure. White immediately took advantage with 21. Ne5!, and after 21…Ra6?!, taking no heed of danger, came 22. Qg4 \u2014 launching a decisive attack. Black tried 22…Kh7, defeinding h6, but the storm was already breaking. White delivered a stunning blow 23. Nxh6!!, a brilliant sacrifice that ripped open Black\u2019s kingside. After 23…gxh6 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Ng6#, it was checkmate. This brilliant finish reminds us of one of the great lessons of chess \u2014 and life: sometimes, you must take risks and trust your calculation. Evaluating, understanding, and acting with courage can lead to victory both on and off the board. Looking ahead As the Olympiad crosses its midpoint, the energy in Astana continues to rise. Every player here proves that chess is not only a sport of the mind, but a triumph of spirit, inclusion, and shared humanity. The standings after Round 3 and pairings for Round 4 can be found here: Chess Results \u2013 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities Official website:\u00a0dis-olympiad2025.fide.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":39575,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[158,415],"regular":[],"sticky-post":[358],"class_list":["post-39569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chess-news","tag-chess-olympiad","tag-chessfordisabled","sticky-post-sticky"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39569"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39589,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39569\/revisions\/39589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39569"},{"taxonomy":"regular","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regular?post=39569"},{"taxonomy":"sticky-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sticky-post?post=39569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}