Chess tournament among under-20 players initiates in Almaty, Kazakhstan
The 2025 Kazakhstan Junior Chess Championship is set to unfold from May 1 to 5, drawing in a whopping 115 young chess whizzes, including 80 boys and 35 girls. To secure a spot, participants must hold at least a 1st category ranking.
The event will consist of nine rounds, using the Swiss system, with each game granting 60 minutes and a 30-second increment per move. The grand prize pool of 1.2 million tenge will be distributed among the winners, with the champions receiving 270,000 tenge each. Second place will be rewarded with 210,000 tenge, while third place will pocket 120,000 tenge.
What truly makes this tournament a coveted event is the main prize – a ticket to the final of the adult Kazakhstan Championship and the chance to represent the republic at the Asian Championship.
Freedom Holding is the tournament's main sponsor.
Recently, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation has put in an extensive effort to cultivate chess within the Kazakh community. Last year's championship drew 86 participants, and this year's event in Almaty has escalated the competition with 115 players. While the tournament caters to those under 20, most of the participants fall into the teenage age group.
Speaking on the tournament's development, Timur Ruslanovich Turlov, the head of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, shared that "under our federation's significant efforts and resources, chess has not only developed in regions steeped in chess history but also in areas where it previously had little resonance among the population."
Furthermore, with the federation's investment in various championships, seminars for arbiters, and training for event organizers, chess in Kazakhstan is experiencing a renaissance. As a result, Kazakhstani chess players have emerged as formidable competitors on the international stage, forcing opponents to adopt a non-trivial approach to face them.
This year, spectators can look forward to some thrilling matches. The boys' tournament will pit last year's silver medalist and FIDE Master Imanjali Akhilbay against rising talents like International Master Satbek Ahmedinov, FIDE Masters Oraz Shonazarov, Nurdailet Tangatov, and Ernur Amangeльdy.
The girls' tournament offers an exciting battle royale between FIDE Women Masters Kristina Popandopulo, Maria Khlyavko, Zhambota Kamarova, Aisa Asylkhan, and FIDE Women Master Khanzada Amanjhol.
With anticipation building in the somber, yet heated atmosphere of the tournament hall, expect twists, turns, and high-stakes finishes as these chess prodigies duel for the championship title.
"I relish the competition and the battle. I enjoy developing unique strategies and calculating variations. Guessing my opponent's move is crucial in a sharp, forced position," divulged Vladislav Malygin.
16-year-old chess player Nazira Aitasova expressed similar sentiments. "I find the intellectuality of chess, the mental tension, and the strategizing process alluring. It allows glimpses into the minds of amazing people from around the world."
Interestingly, the Championship began on the Day of Unity of the Peoples of the Republic of Kazakhstan, symbolizing the unity of each citizen – regardless of nationality – as vital pieces on the larger chessboard of the nation.
The 2025 Kazakhstan Junior Chess Championship, a multidimensional sports event, is significantly important for the Kazakh community, as it offers important grants, including the grand prize of 1.2 million tenge for the winners. This tournament, sponsored by Freedom Holding, is more than just a competition; it provides a chance for young chess prodigies, like Nazira Aitasova, to develop unique strategies and showcase their skills on a national and international stage.
