Timur Turlov’s Column
July 2026 Highlights
I would like to start this column with an event that has arguably become one of the most significant milestones of this year, both for me personally and for Kazakhstani chess. I am referring to my nomination for the position of President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Most of you have likely seen the news. I have also had the opportunity to discuss this directly with many colleagues from Kazakhstan as well as close international partners. I will not go into detail about my election platform here, as there are other platforms for that purpose. Instead, I would like to reflect on the journey that has brought me, and all of us, to this historical moment.
Most of you have likely seen the news. I have also had the opportunity to discuss this directly with many colleagues from Kazakhstan as well as close international partners. I will not go into detail about my election platform here, as there are other platforms for that purpose. Instead, I would like to reflect on the journey that has brought me, and all of us, to this historical moment.
In recent years, chess has come to occupy a major place in my life. At first, it was a casual amateur interest, much like many people have: games with friends, playing on a smartphone, evenings with family. Gradually, however, this passion evolved into a full-scale project to which I now dedicate a substantial part of my attention, energy, and resources.
My election as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in 2023 played a decisive role. With the support of the Head of State, my colleagues and I set out to transform national chess and set it on a new track. We set a serious goal to make chess more popular, professional, and digital, to build a functioning ecosystem spanning all regions and levels, and, naturally, to raise the bar for athletic achievement.
Those who follow Kazakhstani chess closely know how much it has changed over recent years. A great deal of what we envisioned, we have truly managed to bring to fruition.
Today, Kazakhstan has a Youth Talent Support Program, with a 2026 budget of approximately KZT 371 million. Each month, the country hosts between 300 and 400 tournaments at various levels. We are implementing a large-scale “Chess in Education” project, which already spans over 1,500 schools and 60,000 students. For the first time, Kazakhstani universities have begun training professional chess educators. KazChessLab research centers are being established, becoming true hubs for new teaching methodologies and practices. A digital accreditation system for chess schools and clubs has also been launched.
Much has already been said about our athletes’ medal performances in recent years; I will simply emphasize that for Kazakhstan, these results are record-breaking.
My election as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation in 2023 played a decisive role. With the support of the Head of State, my colleagues and I set out to transform national chess and set it on a new track. We set a serious goal to make chess more popular, professional, and digital, to build a functioning ecosystem spanning all regions and levels, and, naturally, to raise the bar for athletic achievement.
Those who follow Kazakhstani chess closely know how much it has changed over recent years. A great deal of what we envisioned, we have truly managed to bring to fruition.
Today, Kazakhstan has a Youth Talent Support Program, with a 2026 budget of approximately KZT 371 million. Each month, the country hosts between 300 and 400 tournaments at various levels. We are implementing a large-scale “Chess in Education” project, which already spans over 1,500 schools and 60,000 students. For the first time, Kazakhstani universities have begun training professional chess educators. KazChessLab research centers are being established, becoming true hubs for new teaching methodologies and practices. A digital accreditation system for chess schools and clubs has also been launched.
Much has already been said about our athletes’ medal performances in recent years; I will simply emphasize that for Kazakhstan, these results are record-breaking.
Our partnership with FIDE naturally evolved alongside these developments. Over the past three years alone, Freedom has directed approximately $75 million toward the development of chess in Kazakhstan and through FIDE channels. In four years, our country has hosted six major tournaments under the auspices of the Federation. These range from the World Championship Match to the first-ever World University Team Championship, which is taking place in Almaty at the time of writing this column.
All of these competitions have brought together thousands of the world’s best chess players. The 2025 World Cadets Championship alone gathered over 800 participants from 88 countries. Kazakhstan has become one of the few countries to have hosted a World Championship Match, a World Youth Championship, and a Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities all within a single decade.
Here, perhaps, it is worth emphasizing the high status of the game itself. Chess has been around for nearly a millennium and a half. Few human creations have survived so many centuries without losing their relevance. This game has endured more than one technological shift; and with the arrival of computers and artificial intelligence, it did not die out as many had predicted, but on the contrary, became more popular than ever.
All of these competitions have brought together thousands of the world’s best chess players. The 2025 World Cadets Championship alone gathered over 800 participants from 88 countries. Kazakhstan has become one of the few countries to have hosted a World Championship Match, a World Youth Championship, and a Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities all within a single decade.
Here, perhaps, it is worth emphasizing the high status of the game itself. Chess has been around for nearly a millennium and a half. Few human creations have survived so many centuries without losing their relevance. This game has endured more than one technological shift; and with the arrival of computers and artificial intelligence, it did not die out as many had predicted, but on the contrary, became more popular than ever.
Yet what makes chess so resilient and vital is not merely its flawless rules, but the people behind them. Wilhelm Steinitz, who became the first World Champion, followed by Emanuel Lasker, who held the crown for 27 years. Bobby Fischer, who succeeded in revolutionizing world chess and making it commercially successful and widely covered by the media. Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov, whose rivalry defined an entire era. The legendary Judit Polgár, who proved that there are no separate male and female summits at the board. Of course, Viswanathan Anand, Magnus Carlsen, and the new generation of stars that came after them.
I want to see FIDE digital, modern, and more open to chess players and national federations alike. I want to review well-established and sometimes noticeably outdated processes. I aim to strengthen the educational and diplomatic roles of the organization.
Here, I have plenty to build upon beyond our Kazakhstani experience: since 2024, I have also served as President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), an organization professionally dedicated to this entire domain, from integrating chess into educational systems, promoting the game among children, and training teachers, to hosting global school tournaments. I hope the 2026 World Schools Chess Championship will bring together around 100 countries from all continents. This, in my view, clearly demonstrates how rapidly the game takes root wherever it is given a path forward.
In short, I have a clear understanding of where FIDE needs to move, what chess should be in the digital age, and I know precisely what foundations I will rely on in this endeavor.
I want to see FIDE digital, modern, and more open to chess players and national federations alike. I want to review well-established and sometimes noticeably outdated processes. I aim to strengthen the educational and diplomatic roles of the organization.
Here, I have plenty to build upon beyond our Kazakhstani experience: since 2024, I have also served as President of the International School Chess Federation (ISCF), an organization professionally dedicated to this entire domain, from integrating chess into educational systems, promoting the game among children, and training teachers, to hosting global school tournaments. I hope the 2026 World Schools Chess Championship will bring together around 100 countries from all continents. This, in my view, clearly demonstrates how rapidly the game takes root wherever it is given a path forward.
In short, I have a clear understanding of where FIDE needs to move, what chess should be in the digital age, and I know precisely what foundations I will rely on in this endeavor.
We will find out how the elections unfold come September. In the meantime, while the suspense remains, let us discuss chess news from Kazakhstan.
Perhaps the standout event of July was the performance of our athletes at the 28th Asian Youth Chess Championships in Shenzhen, China. Our youth squad captured 13 medals, including 6 golds. They were brought home by Adinur Adilbek (twice), Ramazan Tulegen, Maksat Baisalbekov, Nurali Nurshin, and Mariya Kholyavko.
The competition at the tournament was fierce, on par with top world championships: nearly 900 athletes from 29 countries. In my view, this clearly underscores the true value of the awards won. But no less important is the trajectory. A year ago at the championship in Bangkok, Kazakhstani players took 11 medals, including 5 golds. That is, we have made a noticeable step forward, and personally, I am delighted that this is not a one-off stroke of luck, but a fully confirmed trend.
Perhaps the standout event of July was the performance of our athletes at the 28th Asian Youth Chess Championships in Shenzhen, China. Our youth squad captured 13 medals, including 6 golds. They were brought home by Adinur Adilbek (twice), Ramazan Tulegen, Maksat Baisalbekov, Nurali Nurshin, and Mariya Kholyavko.
The competition at the tournament was fierce, on par with top world championships: nearly 900 athletes from 29 countries. In my view, this clearly underscores the true value of the awards won. But no less important is the trajectory. A year ago at the championship in Bangkok, Kazakhstani players took 11 medals, including 5 golds. That is, we have made a noticeable step forward, and personally, I am delighted that this is not a one-off stroke of luck, but a fully confirmed trend.
Our athletes performed just as convincingly at the Central and North Asian Youth Championship in Kyrgyzstan, which gathered 479 chess players from across the region. Kazakhstani players secured 33 medals there, including 13 golds.
In classical chess, gold was won by Danis Kuandykuly, Mariya Kholyavko, Yernur Yerzhanuly, and Imangali Akhilbay. In blitz, Danis and Mariya repeated their success, joined by Nurislam Sultankhan, Alikhan Nazarbek, Yerlan Tleukhanov, and Albina Kairbekova. In rapid, gold medals were added to the national team’s tally by Alikhan Sagyntayev, Yuriy Pak, and Bibissara Yerzhan.
Importantly, the results of this championship will count toward the Youth Talent Support Program that I mentioned earlier.
In classical chess, gold was won by Danis Kuandykuly, Mariya Kholyavko, Yernur Yerzhanuly, and Imangali Akhilbay. In blitz, Danis and Mariya repeated their success, joined by Nurislam Sultankhan, Alikhan Nazarbek, Yerlan Tleukhanov, and Albina Kairbekova. In rapid, gold medals were added to the national team’s tally by Alikhan Sagyntayev, Yuriy Pak, and Bibissara Yerzhan.
Importantly, the results of this championship will count toward the Youth Talent Support Program that I mentioned earlier.
Friends, chess has taught me that the outcome is determined not by a single flashy move, but by the overall quality of the long-term position.
I have had the opportunity to convince myself of this both as a player and as a leader. September will certainly put everything in its place. But whatever the outcome of the elections, Kazakhstan has already proven the main point: it can be not only a platform for world chess, but also a source of solutions for the global chess community.
I have had the opportunity to convince myself of this both as a player and as a leader. September will certainly put everything in its place. But whatever the outcome of the elections, Kazakhstan has already proven the main point: it can be not only a platform for world chess, but also a source of solutions for the global chess community.
Тимур Турлов
Президент Казахстанской федерации шахмат
Президент Казахстанской федерации шахмат