Bissara Asaubaeva clinched the bronze medal in the major Swiss FIDE tournament
In the recent FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 tournament held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a 21-year-old Grandmaster from Kazakhstan, Bibisara Assaubayeva, made a strong impression, finishing in 3rd place.
Assaubayeva's journey in the tournament was marked by determination and resilience, as she battled against some of the world's top chess players. She ended the tournament with 7.5 points, securing a significant $25,000 prize.
The Kazakhstani star's decisive game against Anna Muzychuk ended in a draw, ensuring her 3rd place finish. This result is a significant celebration for Kazakhstani fans and a testament to Assaubayeva's high level of play.
Meanwhile, in the men's tournament, it was Anish Giri who emerged victorious with 8 points. Matthias Blübaum finished in second place, while Alireza Firouzja took third. Notably, a rising star, Abhijit Gupta, led a group of 15 players with 7 points in the men's tournament.
In the women's tournament, Vaishali Rameshbabu from India repeated her triumph from 2023, claiming the top spot with 8 points. Kateryna Lagno from Ukraine took 2nd place with the same score.
Bibisara Assaubayeva's strong performance in the FIDE Grand Swiss 2025 tournament opens up prospects for her in the fight for the 8th spot in the 2026 contenders' tournament. Her current standing, behind four other players including Anna Muzychuk, Lei Tingjie, and Harika Dronavalli, suggests that she has good chances to earn points towards this goal at upcoming elite events such as the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss.
Elsewhere, it was reported that Kazakhstani tennis player Zhіbek Kulambayeva won her first WTA title, and 14-year-old Elnaza Kaliahmet achieved the norm for the Women's Grandmaster title before her 15th birthday.
In another exciting game, Ksenia Balabayeva concluded the women's tournament with a victory over Gulden Karimova. Meruert Kamalidenova also secured a top 23 spot and a $3,000 prize in the women's tournament after defeating Eline Roebers.
In the final round, Assaubayeva shared 3rd place with three other players, including Tan Zhongyi and Sun Yiying from China. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the history of women's tournaments at the 'FIDE Grand Swiss'.
