{"id":46310,"date":"2026-05-13T11:11:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:11:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/?p=46310"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:11:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:11:37","slug":"kazakhstans-chess-oscar-kazchess-awards-2026-unites-champions-legends-and-the-nations-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/kazakhstans-chess-oscar-kazchess-awards-2026-unites-champions-legends-and-the-nations-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Kazakhstan\u2019s Chess \u201cOscar\u201d: KazChess Awards 2026 unites champions, legends, and the nation\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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At the Hilton Astana in Astana, the KazChess Awards 2026<\/strong> 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 \u2013 comparable in scale to the Oscars \u2013 except here, the spotlight is on intellect and strategic mastery.<\/p>

The evening opened with a \u201cRenaissance\u201d performance by the FLAME STARS dance ensemble \u2013 a fitting metaphor for the renaissance Kazakhstan\u2019s 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.<\/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 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. \u00a0<\/p>

High-level representation<\/strong><\/p>

A welcome address on behalf of Maulen Ashimbayev<\/strong>, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, was delivered by Nurtore Zhussip<\/strong>, Chairman of the Committee on Socio-Cultural Development and Science. Awards to para-athletes were presented by Major General Aidar Saitbekov<\/strong>, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.<\/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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Nominations within the \u201cChess in Education\u201d program were presented by Sayasat Nurbek<\/strong>, Minister of Science and Higher Education, and Aidos Zholmanov<\/strong>, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Education. The final nominations were announced by Arkady Dvorkovich<\/strong>, President of FIDE. Such representation at a national sports award is rare in any discipline.<\/p>

The ceremony also featured a congratulatory letter from Olzhas Suleimenov<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>International recognition<\/strong><\/p>

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.<\/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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\u201cOver 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>

\u00a0<\/strong>Vision from the federation<\/strong><\/p>

Timur Turlov<\/strong>, 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\u2013strengthening Kazakhstan through chess.<\/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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What produces champions: The Young Talents Support Program<\/strong><\/p>

A key distinction in Kazakhstan\u2019s approach is between elite sports development and educational outreach.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

Standout achievements include:<\/p>

  • Bibisara Assaubayeva<\/strong> \u2013 three-time World Blitz Champion<\/span><\/li>
  • Women\u2019s national team \u2013 historic Olympic silver in Budapest 2024<\/span><\/li>
  • Kazybek Nogerbek<\/strong> \u2013 World Junior U20 Champion<\/span><\/li>
  • Alisha Bisaliyeva<\/strong> \u2013 multiple youth world titles<\/span><\/li>
  • Edgar Mamedov<\/strong> and Mark Smirnov<\/strong> \u2013 2025 youth world champions<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Over three years, the federation awarded 5 new Grandmaster and 15 International Master titles.<\/p>

    \u201cChess in Education\u201d: 1,500 schools and 60,000 children<\/strong><\/p>

    Separate from elite sports, the \u201cChess in Education\u201d program focuses on cognitive development for all children.<\/p>

    The state target of 1,400 schools (2023\u20132027 plan) has already been exceeded: today, more than 1,500 schools<\/strong> and 60,000 students<\/strong> participate nationwide. Some 2,800 primary school teachers<\/strong> have been trained. In the 2025\u20132026 academic year, 204 students<\/strong> in five pedagogical universities enrolled in a specialized Minor program. Fourteen memorandums have been signed with universities.<\/p>

    In September 2025, Almaty hosted the III International Conference \u201cChess in Education\u201d with 281 experts discussing chess\u2019s role in the era of digitalization and AI\u2013positioning Kazakhstan among global leaders in this movement.<\/p>

    Emotional highlights of the ceremony<\/strong><\/p>

    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.<\/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 \u201cJuniors of the Year\u201d awards were presented by Olympic boxing champion Serik Sapiyev<\/strong> and President of the Kazakhstan Gymnastics Federation Aliya Yussupova<\/strong>.<\/p>

    Special warmth filled the hall during the para-athlete awards. Winners included Erlan Nurkhaev<\/strong>, Aiganim Kambarova<\/strong>, and Nina Zhukovskaya<\/strong>.<\/p>

    \u00a0<\/strong>Regional emphasis<\/strong><\/p>

    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.<\/p>

    From the national championship to the awards stage<\/strong><\/p>

    Notably, many stars arrived directly from the National Classical Chess Championship final, which concluded just hours before the ceremony. The new national champions \u2013 15-year-old Sauat Nurgaliyev and 16-year-old Zarina Nurgaliyeva \u2013 represent a generation shaped by this newly built system.<\/p>

    \u00a0<\/strong>A growing foundation<\/strong><\/p>

    In three years, the number of award categories has expanded from 9 to 18. This reflects a widening circle of recognition \u2013 athletes, educators, arbiters, managers, regional leaders \u2013 all contributing to a robust chess ecosystem.<\/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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    Kazakhstan\u2019s 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.<\/p>

    \u00a0<\/strong>Full List of Laureates \u2013 KazChess Awards 2026<\/strong><\/p>

    1. Special Athlete (Visual Impairment)<\/strong> \u2013 Erlan Nurkhaev<\/span><\/li>
    2. Special Athlete (Mobility Impairment)<\/strong> \u2013 Aiganim Kambarova<\/span><\/li>
    3. Special Athlete (Hearing Impairment)<\/strong> \u2013 Nina Zhukovskaya<\/span><\/li>
    4. Junior of the Year (Boys U18)<\/strong> \u2013 Edgar Mamedov<\/span><\/li>
    5. Junior of the Year (Girls U18)<\/strong> \u2013 Elnaz Kaliakhmet<\/span><\/li>
    6. Best Veterans<\/strong> \u2013 Marat Primbetov, Inna Matveeva-Popruikalo<\/span><\/li>
    7. Best KCF Branch<\/strong> \u2013 Kazakhstan Chess Federation Almaty Branch<\/span><\/li>
    8. Best Young Arbiter<\/strong> \u2013 Akzhan Shopanov<\/span><\/li>
    9. Chess Ambassador of the Year<\/strong> \u2013 Aliya Ashim and Danil Lee<\/span><\/li>
    10. Media Partner of the Year<\/strong> \u2013 Evraziya TV (Almira Kulmukhamedova)<\/span><\/li>
    11. Best Coordinator of the \u201cChess in Education\u201d Program<\/strong> \u2013 Gulnur Aitimova (Astana, School-Lyceum No. 8)<\/span><\/li>
    12. Best University of the \u201cChess in Education\u201d Program<\/strong> \u2013 Kazakh National Women\u2019s Teacher Training University<\/span><\/li>
    13. Best Teacher of the \u201cChess in Education\u201d Program<\/strong> \u2013<\/span>
      Meruert Temirova (Astana, BINOM School) and<\/span>
      Oryntai Sarkytbekova (Semey, School No. 27)<\/span><\/li>
    14. Team of the Year (Olzhas Suleimenov Prize)<\/strong> \u2013 Team KazChess, FIDE World Team Blitz Vice-Champions:<\/span>
      Darmen Sadvakasov,<\/span>
      Aldiyar Ansat,<\/span>
      Meruert Kamalidenova,<\/span>
      Elnaz Kaliakhmet,<\/span>
      Islam Aiten;<\/span>
      Team Captain \u2013 Gulmira Dauletova<\/span><\/li>
    15. Hope of the Year (Toktar Aubakirov Prize)<\/strong> \u2013 Alisha Bisaliyeva<\/span><\/li>
    16. Employee of the Year<\/strong> \u2013 Raushan Kulakhmetova<\/span><\/li>
    17. Best Female Athlete of the Year (Anatoly Ufimtsev Prize)<\/strong> \u2013 Bibisara Assaubayeva<\/span><\/li>
    18. Best Male Athlete of the Year (Anatoly Ufimtsev Prize)<\/strong> \u2013 Aldiyar Ansat<\/span><\/li><\/ol>

      Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Federation \/ lk-studio<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      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 \u2013 comparable in scale to the Oscars \u2013 except here, the spotlight is on intellect and strategic mastery. The evening opened with a \u201cRenaissance\u201d performance by the FLAME STARS dance ensemble \u2013 a fitting metaphor for the renaissance Kazakhstan\u2019s 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. \u00a0 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 \u201cChess in Education\u201d 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. \u00a0International 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. \u201cOver 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 \u2013 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 \u2013 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,\u201d he said. \u00a0Vision 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\u2013strengthening Kazakhstan through chess. What produces champions: The Young Talents Support Program A key distinction in Kazakhstan\u2019s 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 \u2013 three-time World Blitz Champion Women\u2019s national team \u2013 historic Olympic silver in Budapest 2024 Kazybek Nogerbek \u2013 World Junior U20 Champion Alisha Bisaliyeva \u2013 multiple youth world titles Edgar Mamedov and Mark Smirnov \u2013 2025 youth world champions Over three years, the federation awarded 5 new Grandmaster and 15 International Master titles. \u201cChess in Education\u201d: 1,500 schools and 60,000 children Separate from elite sports, the \u201cChess in Education\u201d program focuses on cognitive development for all children. The state target of 1,400 schools (2023\u20132027 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\u20132026 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 \u201cChess in Education\u201d with 281 experts discussing chess\u2019s role in the era of digitalization and AI\u2013positioning 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 \u201cJuniors of the Year\u201d 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. \u00a0Regional 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 \u2013 15-year-old Sauat Nurgaliyev and 16-year-old Zarina Nurgaliyeva \u2013 represent a generation shaped by this newly built system. \u00a0A growing foundation In three years, the number of award categories has expanded from 9 to 18. This reflects a widening circle of recognition \u2013 athletes, educators, arbiters, managers, regional<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":46317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[12,334],"regular":[],"sticky-post":[],"class_list":["post-46310","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chess-news","tag-kazakhstan","tag-national-federations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46310","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=46310"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46321,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46310\/revisions\/46321"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46310"},{"taxonomy":"regular","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regular?post=46310"},{"taxonomy":"sticky-post","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sticky-post?post=46310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}