Timur Turlov’s Column
June 2026 Highlights
I am probably not mistaken in saying that the quality of growth in almost any field, whether it is the economy, business, the social sector, or sports, directly and largely depends on so-called icebreaker projects.
These are the kinds of projects that set the bar and push the existing environment one step beyond what already is.
These are the kinds of projects that set the bar and push the existing environment one step beyond what already is.
For Kazakhstan, Astana once became such a project; the capital opened the way for other cities to a new dimension of comfort and quality of life. For the Freedom ecosystem, our SuperApp played a similar role, helping us break through the ceiling of traditional fintech.
In fact, there are many such examples: OpenAI in neurotechnology, SpaceX in private aerospace, and eGov in the digitalization of Kazakhstan's government apparatus. All of these stories share a less obvious but common trait: they succeeded in expanding the space for growth in a new direction.
Why am I bringing this up? If we apply the same logic to chess, the role of tournaments like the Aktobe Open, which we hosted in June, reveals itself in a completely different light.
In fact, there are many such examples: OpenAI in neurotechnology, SpaceX in private aerospace, and eGov in the digitalization of Kazakhstan's government apparatus. All of these stories share a less obvious but common trait: they succeeded in expanding the space for growth in a new direction.
Why am I bringing this up? If we apply the same logic to chess, the role of tournaments like the Aktobe Open, which we hosted in June, reveals itself in a completely different light.
For many observers, and even for some experts within the national sports ecosystem, hosting a competition with a $100,000 prize pool in a regional center rather than in Astana or Almaty probably seems unusual and perhaps even somewhat baffling.
Yet for us at the Federation, its mission as an icebreaker project for the regions, designed to spur chess ambitions outside the two main capitals, was obvious and planned from the very start.
Consider this: the tournament draws hundreds of players, including top grandmasters from more than 20 countries, such as England, India, China, Turkey, and the USA. This alone makes the event prominent and one of the largest, not just for Kazakhstan's regions but across all of Central Asia.
Yet for us at the Federation, its mission as an icebreaker project for the regions, designed to spur chess ambitions outside the two main capitals, was obvious and planned from the very start.
Consider this: the tournament draws hundreds of players, including top grandmasters from more than 20 countries, such as England, India, China, Turkey, and the USA. This alone makes the event prominent and one of the largest, not just for Kazakhstan's regions but across all of Central Asia.
At the same time, the Aktobe Open gives our chess players a rare chance to challenge renowned opponents right here at home. This kind of hands-on experience cannot be replaced by training camps or even the most advanced analytics. It offers live gameplay with its own mistakes, miscalculations, and successful decisions, making the value of such experience incredibly high.
I believe our young talents Daniyal Sapenov and Liya Kurmangaliyeva, who won silver at the tournament, can confirm this better than I can.
I believe our young talents Daniyal Sapenov and Liya Kurmangaliyeva, who won silver at the tournament, can confirm this better than I can.
Perhaps most importantly, seeing such a large-scale tournament in their own region gives Aktobe chess players both a reason to be proud of their homeland and a clear benchmark for what Kazakhstani chess can and should be today. It is symbolic that Alan Petukhov, a local native, won the Open tournament (under 2400) for the second consecutive year. In my view, this proves that we are right to shift our focus to the regions and bring them to the forefront of the chess agenda.
It is also crucial that the Federation continues to develop this philosophy of regional growth through icebreaker projects in other regions of our country. This July, the Oskemen Open will take place in Ust-Kamenogorsk with an identical $100,000 prize pool. I am confident it will be just as beautiful a story as the Aktobe Open, this time in the east of our vast country. In short, world-class chess centers of attraction should exist outside Astana and Almaty, and we are putting this into practice.
It is also crucial that the Federation continues to develop this philosophy of regional growth through icebreaker projects in other regions of our country. This July, the Oskemen Open will take place in Ust-Kamenogorsk with an identical $100,000 prize pool. I am confident it will be just as beautiful a story as the Aktobe Open, this time in the east of our vast country. In short, world-class chess centers of attraction should exist outside Astana and Almaty, and we are putting this into practice.
However, icebreakers clear the way not only within the country. In June, I followed the performances of our chess players outside Kazakhstan with great pleasure.
Our talents also brought home medals from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong. That tournament, by the way, featured a powerhouse, star-studded roster of players, including Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren, Alireza Firouzja, and Arjun Erigaisi. Alua Nurman delivered a particularly brilliant performance, capturing gold in the blitz and silver in the rapid. Aylin Zarkym and Kumar Tyulyupov brought home medals of their own as well. On top of that, both of our teams, KazChess and Barys, made it into the global top 10 at the World Team Rapid Championship. At one point, Barys even defeated Magnus Carlsen's team, WR Chess, which became a a profoundly symbolic victory that united all Kazakhstani players and fans.
Our talents also brought home medals from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Hong Kong. That tournament, by the way, featured a powerhouse, star-studded roster of players, including Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren, Alireza Firouzja, and Arjun Erigaisi. Alua Nurman delivered a particularly brilliant performance, capturing gold in the blitz and silver in the rapid. Aylin Zarkym and Kumar Tyulyupov brought home medals of their own as well. On top of that, both of our teams, KazChess and Barys, made it into the global top 10 at the World Team Rapid Championship. At one point, Barys even defeated Magnus Carlsen's team, WR Chess, which became a a profoundly symbolic victory that united all Kazakhstani players and fans.
Of course, Sauat Nurgaliyev's bronze medal at the World Junior Chess Championship, which recently concluded in Italy, was also highly rewarding.
Kazakhstani rising stars shone brightly at the World Cup in Georgia too. Ten-year-old Rizat Ulan secured gold, while nine-year-old Alisha Bisalieva took silver. In the G12 and O12 categories, Milana Filippova and Ramazan Tulegen claimed bronze awards. The competition field was impressive, featuring 662 athletes from 68 countries.
These victories are crucial because they open a direct path for our players to the World Cadet Chess Championship, which will take place this November in Batumi.
Kazakhstani rising stars shone brightly at the World Cup in Georgia too. Ten-year-old Rizat Ulan secured gold, while nine-year-old Alisha Bisalieva took silver. In the G12 and O12 categories, Milana Filippova and Ramazan Tulegen claimed bronze awards. The competition field was impressive, featuring 662 athletes from 68 countries.
These victories are crucial because they open a direct path for our players to the World Cadet Chess Championship, which will take place this November in Batumi.
Returning to the domestic agenda, I would like to highlight the conclusion of the Senat Open. This tournament is also an icebreaker project of sorts for national chess. We have been organizing it together with the Senate of the Parliament since 2024, and during this time, it has grown significantly. This year alone, it drew nearly 9,000 participants and covered every single region of Kazakhstan.
On the day of the finals in Astana, the Chairman of the Senate, Maulen Ashimbayev, and I reviewed the outcomes of this extensive work. We discussed how the tournament contributes to fulfilling the President's directives, helps develop the republic's intellectual potential, and connects cities and regions into a unified chess community.
On the day of the finals in Astana, the Chairman of the Senate, Maulen Ashimbayev, and I reviewed the outcomes of this extensive work. We discussed how the tournament contributes to fulfilling the President's directives, helps develop the republic's intellectual potential, and connects cities and regions into a unified chess community.
I would like to close this column with another fantastic piece of news for Kazakhstani chess. Seventeen-year-old Aldiyar Ansat has crossed the 2,500 rating threshold and officially met all the requirements to become an International Grandmaster. Notably, this milestone was reached during the Aktobe Open I mentioned earlier. As a result, Aldiyar has become the 22nd chess player in the history of Kazakhstan to earn this prestigious title.
This success is incredibly inspiring to me personally, not just because I head the Chess Federation, but rather because it represents another shared achievement for all of Kazakhstan.
Looking at Aldiyar, even more children will want to try their hand at chess, which means there will be demand for schools, clubs, qualified coaches, digitalization, and analytics. This entire chain reaction is set off by such brilliant breakthroughs.
Ultimately, we are building a unified national chess ecosystem today, with its unprecedented support programs, digital transition, and youth projects, precisely to create these breakthroughs systematically.
Every new regional tournament, every international medal, and every new grandmaster serves as the very icebreakers that clear a wide path forward for Kazakhstani chess. I believe we are only at the very beginning of this great voyage.
Looking at Aldiyar, even more children will want to try their hand at chess, which means there will be demand for schools, clubs, qualified coaches, digitalization, and analytics. This entire chain reaction is set off by such brilliant breakthroughs.
Ultimately, we are building a unified national chess ecosystem today, with its unprecedented support programs, digital transition, and youth projects, precisely to create these breakthroughs systematically.
Every new regional tournament, every international medal, and every new grandmaster serves as the very icebreakers that clear a wide path forward for Kazakhstani chess. I believe we are only at the very beginning of this great voyage.
Timur Turlov
President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation
President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation