This year the championship was held off-line, and for the first time young chess players from 11 to 48 years old took part in it. A total of 24 chess players from all over the country took part in the tournament, which took place from December 1 to 10. The event was organized with the support of DBK by the Kazakhstan’s Chess Federation. The awards ceremony was held last Friday, with medals and diplomas awarded to the winners and runners-up. The total prize fund of the competition was 4,000,000 KZT.
"Despite the difficult epidemiological situation, we managed to successfully hold the Republican Chess Tournament. The current championship brought together a large number of multiple champions of Kazakhstan, so there is no doubt that Denis Makhnev and Meruert Kamalidenova won a worthy victory," said First Vice President of the Kazakhstan’s Chess Federation Ruslan Iskakov.
It should be noted that 16-year-old Meruert Kamalidenova was remembered for her brilliant performance at the 8th FIDE World Team Championship, held in the city of Sitges near Barcelona. With a score of 4.5 points out of 7, she won the bronze medal on the third board and helped the Kazakhstan’s national team reach the quarterfinals.
15-year-old Xenia Balabayeva from Almaty took the second place and Guliskhan Nakhbayeva from Shymkent won the bronze medal. Among men, Zhandos Agmanov from Nur-Sultan got the silver medal and Murtas Kazhgaleyev, 48-year-old from Uralsk, a three-time champion of Kazakhstan, got the bronze medal.
"This year, for the first time, the Championships brought together a very young lineup of participants, where the youngest chess player was only 11 years old. There were members of Kazakhstan national teams, winners of qualifying tournaments, as well as guest chess players from all regions of the country among the players. The championships were held in an intense struggle, and the winners were determined only according to the results of the last round. I would like to express my gratitude and special thanks to the general sponsor of the Championships, Development Bank of Kazakhstan JSC and the First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the AIFC Authority JSC Kairat Aitekenov for his assistance in organizing and holding the Championships" said the Executive Director of the Kazakhstan’s Chess Federation, International Grandmaster Anuar Ismagambetov
Congratulating the winners of the tournament, Chairman of the Management Board of the Development Bank of Kazakhstan Abay Sarkulov noted the high preparation of the competition participants.
"We are glad that our support gives an opportunity to attract children to intellectual sport and to develop our young national chess players. And, looking at the number of participants and their skills I am confident in their bright victories in the future! I sincerely congratulate all participants and prize-winners and wish you new victories!” stated Abay Sarkulov.
To remind, the Development Bank of Kazakhstan has already been the general sponsor of the online tournament among young chess players in age categories under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years previously. Back then more than 500 young talents from all corners of the country competed for the title of the strongest.
