The KazChess Awards 2026 was held at the Hilton Astana in Kazakhstan’s capital city. The grand ceremony brought together world champions, coaches, arbiters, officials, journalists, and chess lovers from across the country.

In just a few years, the KazChess Awards has grown into one of the biggest chess celebrations in the world. Many now call it the “Oscars of Chess” because of its prestige and grand presentation.

The evening began with a spectacular “Renaissance” performance by the FLAME STARS dance ensemble. It perfectly symbolized the rapid rise of chess in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Chess Boom Continues

The awards ceremony highlighted the incredible growth of chess in Kazakhstan since 2023.

The country’s achievements continue to improve every year:

• 126 international medals in 2023
• 160 international medals in 2024
• 162 international medals in 2025

These numbers show how Kazakhstan has become one of the fastest-growing chess nations in the world.

High-Profile Guests Attend the Event

Several important political and sports leaders attended the ceremony.

A welcome message from Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan, was delivered by Nurtore Zhussip.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Major General Aidar Saitbekov presented awards to para-athletes.

The “Chess in Education” awards were presented by:

• Sayasat Nurbek – Minister of Science and Higher Education
• Aidos Zholmanov – Ministry of Education official

The final awards of the evening were announced by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.

A special congratulatory letter was also sent by famous poet and diplomat Olzhas Suleimenov. He praised chess as a powerful tool for education and social development.

FIDE Praises Kazakhstan’s Chess Development

FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich praised Kazakhstan for becoming a global model in chess development.

He especially highlighted the country’s progress in:

• Youth chess
• School chess
• International tournaments
• Grassroots development

Kazakhstan has hosted several major chess events in recent years, including:

• FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2022 in Almaty
• FIDE World Championship Match 2023 in Astana
• World Rapid & Blitz Team events
• Several international chess initiatives worldwide

Dvorkovich also praised the support provided by Timur Turlov and Freedom Holding Corp.

Timur Turlov Explains the Federation’s Vision

Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, explained that the awards are not only about celebrating players.

The federation also honors:

• Coaches
• Arbiters
• Teachers
• Managers
• Regional organizers

This complete system has helped Kazakhstan build a strong chess ecosystem from grassroots level to elite international chess.

Young Talents Support Program Creates Champions

One of the biggest reasons behind Kazakhstan’s success is the Young Talents Support Program.

The program supports players under 16 years old through:

• Financial grants
• International tournament opportunities
• Training camps
• Professional coaching

Program Investment

• 18 players received 454 million tenge in support during 2024
• 21 players received 425 million tenge in support during 2025

Over the last three years, Kazakh players won an impressive 448 international medals.

Biggest Success Stories

Several Kazakh stars achieved historic results in recent years.

Major Achievements

• Bibisara Assaubayeva became a three-time World Blitz Champion
• Kazakhstan women’s team won Olympic silver in Budapest 2024
• Kazybek Nogerbek became World Junior U20 Champion
• Alisha Bisaliyeva won multiple youth world titles
• Edgar Mamedov and Mark Smirnov became 2025 youth world champions

The federation also produced:

• 5 new Grandmasters
• 15 new International Masters

“Chess in Education” Expands Rapidly

Kazakhstan’s “Chess in Education” program continues to grow across the country.

The original target was 1,400 schools between 2023 and 2027. That goal has already been surpassed.

Current Numbers

• More than 1,500 schools participate
• Over 60,000 students are involved
• Around 2,800 primary school teachers have been trained

The program has also expanded into universities.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, 204 students joined specialized chess education programs in five universities.

Kazakhstan also hosted the III International Conference “Chess in Education” in Almaty. Experts discussed chess, digitalization, and artificial intelligence.

Emotional Moments of the Evening

One of the most emotional moments came during the “Hope of the Year” award presentation.

Eight-year-old world champion Alisha Bisaliyeva received the award personally from Toktar Aubakirov, the first Kazakh cosmonaut. The audience responded with a standing ovation.

The “Junior of the Year” awards were presented by:

• Olympic boxing champion Serik Sapiyev
• Gymnastics leader Aliya Yussupova

The para-athlete awards also received huge applause from the audience.

Chess Growth Across All Regions

Kazakhstan’s chess growth is not limited to major cities.

By 2025, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation had established fully operating branches in:

• All 17 regional centers
• Three cities of republican significance

The federation continues to support chess development throughout the country with centralized funding and organization.

New National Champions Shine

Many players arrived at the awards ceremony directly from the National Classical Chess Championship final.

The new champions were:

Open Champion

• Sauat Nurgaliyev (15 years old)

Women’s Champion

• Zarina Nurgaliyeva (16 years old)

Both players represent the exciting future of Kazakh chess.

Full List of KazChess Awards 2026 Winners

Special Athletes

• Erlan Nurkhaev – Visual Impairment
• Aiganim Kambarova – Mobility Impairment
• Nina Zhukovskaya – Hearing Impairment

Junior Awards

• Edgar Mamedov – Junior of the Year (Boys U18)
• Elnaz Kaliakhmet – Junior of the Year (Girls U18)

Other Major Winners

• Best Veterans – Marat Primbetov and Inna Matveeva-Popruikalo
• Best Young Arbiter – Akzhan Shopanov
• Chess Ambassador of the Year – Aliya Ashim and Danil Lee
• Media Partner of the Year – Evraziya TV
• Hope of the Year – Alisha Bisaliyeva
• Employee of the Year – Raushan Kulakhmetova
• Best Female Athlete – Bibisara Assaubayeva
• Best Male Athlete – Aldiyar Ansat

Kazakhstan’s Chess Future Looks Bright

Kazakhstan’s chess revolution continues to grow stronger every year.

The KazChess Awards 2026 once again showed how the country is building one of the world’s strongest chess systems through youth development, education, and international success.

With talented young players, strong federation support, and growing global recognition, Kazakhstan’s future in chess looks brighter than ever.

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Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS

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