Kazakhstan Shines at 2025 Western Asia Youth Chess Championship
A record-breaking 391 young chess players from 13 countries took part in the Western Asia Youth Chess Championship. The event was held from April 20–29, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The championship was organized by the Tajikistan Chess Federation, with support from the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. Players came from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, host Tajikistan, and the FIDE flag team.
The tournament featured three formats: Rapid, Blitz, and Standard (Classical).
Kazakhstan’s Strong Start in Rapid
On day one, Kazakhstan’s young stars dominated the Rapid section. They won seven gold medals! Uzbekistan and FIDE players followed with two golds each, while India claimed one gold.
Kazakhstan Continues to Lead in Blitz
During the Blitz championship, held midway through the event, Kazakhstan kept up its winning streak. They earned five gold medals. Uzbekistan won three golds, and Iran secured two.
An exciting moment came when Asian Chess Federation General Secretary Hisham Al Taher and Tajikistan’s Minister of Sport, Zulfiqor Gulahmadzoda, awarded prizes in the Girls Under-8 Blitz category.
Team Awards
Team medals were given for each section—Rapid, Blitz, and Standard. These were based on the combined results of the top three players from each team. Each team needed at least two players to qualify for team medals.
Bharat Singh, Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation, and Shaker Zadeh Mohammad Taleb, Tajikistan’s Deputy Sport Minister, awarded medals in the Boys Under-8 category.
Kazakhstan Tops the Classical Chess Section
Kazakhstan finished strong in the Standard (Classical) section too. They won four gold medals. FIDE players followed with three golds. Uzbekistan and Iran earned two golds each. Uzbekistan ranked ahead of Iran thanks to more silver medals.
See Full Results
You can check out full results and photos of the awards on the official website:
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Kazakhstan Rules Western Asia Youth Chess Championship – Asian Chess
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Western Asia Youth Team Awards in Standard Chess – Asian Chess
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Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Iran Top Western Asia Youth Blitz Chess Championship – Asian Chess
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Awards Ceremony for Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship – Asian Chess
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Team Awards for Western Asia Youth Rapid Chess Championship – Asian Chess
Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
