In October, chess often made us reflect on its role beyond the board, especially during the 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana. It brought many powerful moments that truly resonated and are worth sharing. I will touch upon them first, and then we can review the other events of the month – of which there were quite a few.

The 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities brought together 34 teams from 29 countries. Why did this event draw so much attention? A combination of several factors came into play.

First, the previous tournament took place nearly three years ago in Serbia, making the Kazakhstani Olympiad the first large-scale international inclusive event since then.

Participants traveled to Astana from across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. From a chess diplomacy perspective, this marks a major success for our entire region.

More importantly, we demonstrated that Kazakhstan and Central Asia are capable of hosting top-tier competitions – not only classical tournaments, but also inclusive events that require meeting far more rigorous conditions and standards. We succeeded, and that is something to be genuinely proud of.

Second, the Olympiad truly brought people together. Truth be told, I was amazed when I realized the actual scale of the event. In addition to the players and those accompanying them, the tournament welcomed numerous guests from various fields: journalists, athletes, government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives, and chess enthusiasts.

People came, connected, shared words of encouragement with the participants, and told their stories. The atmosphere was incredible. You know, I think that for the first time, I truly felt that very power of chess that dissolves barriers and boundaries between people. Yes, anything can happen in life. Losing a physical ability is a heavy blow for anyone. But here, in the world of chess, that does not matter. There isa place foreveryone here.

In my view, no other sport offers such a high level of accessibility as chess. This game values your character, your willpower, and your intellect – ultimately, who you are as a person. It is a space filled with respect and equality, capable of offering a chance not just for a fulfilling life, but also for sporting recognition.

I believe we succeeded brilliantly in revealing this dimension of chess to both the players and the numerous guests. I am certain the Olympiad will leave a lasting impression on everyone who attended.

I am also incredibly grateful for the attention and support we felt throughout the entire tournament. The opening ceremony was attended by State Counsellor of the Republic of Kazakhstan Erlan Tynymbayuly Karin. He delivered a greeting on behalf of our President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who once again reminded us all that a Just Kazakhstan and equal opportunities are inseparable concepts.

This gesture provided immense support to the organizers and participants of the Olympiad. It also served as proof that advancing the principles of equality is a genuine policy priority for the state. This goes beyond sports – it is also about accessible urban environments, rehabilitation programs, and ensuring the same quality of life for all Kazakhstanis. In short, a whole topic for another discussion.

Equally significant was the presence of FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich. For KazChess, FIDE’s trust represents a high benchmark that motivates us to create even more outstanding tournaments and initiatives, both in Kazakhstan and internationally.

We announced and formalized one such initiative right at the Olympiad: a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the venue between FIDE and the International School Chess Federation, in which Kazakhstan plays a key role today.

2026 has been declared the Year of Chess in Education. As part of this initiative, Continental School Championships will be organized, culminating in the FIDE World School Superfinal.

To conclude on the topic of the Olympiad, I can say that right from the opening ceremony, there was a clear feeling that my colleagues and I had succeeded in creating what we strove for – an event that will go down in sporting history and help advance the ideas of equality. At the very least, in Kazakhstan and across 29 other countries. That is already a significant achievement.

Another major highlight in October was the signing in Astana of a memorandum of intent to register the Turkic Chess Association. The initiative brings together Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The idea had been in the making for over a year, and now it is becoming a reality.

Overall, we at KazChess see immense potential here, as our countries have long collaborated economically. The region is of great interest to business and political leaders, home to roughly 170 million people, and boasts over a hundred top-tier grandmasters across the Turkic world.

Yet in chess, we were missing that final element that would bind our national federations together through a clear and functional framework. I don’t want to make predictions, but we can certainly reinforce one another across many areas, and it is time to start doing so.

What matters just as much to me is that others genuinely want to strengthen ties with Kazakhstan. They see us as long-standing friends and reliable partners. Our ideas are heard and respected, and our views are taken into account.

Now, we must translate these agreements into real-world actions: tournaments, youth and children’s programs, and other initiatives. The new organization plans to establish its headquarters in Turkestan. If all goes as planned, this will fill the capital of the Turkic world with new purpose and further reinforce its sacred status.

I also cannot fail to mention the stellar performance by Kazakhstan's youth national team at the FIDE World Cadet & Youth Championships in Albania. The tournament featured 711 players from 84 countries, yet our young talents outclassed the entire field: Mark Smirnov and Edgar Mamedov brought home gold medals, while Sauat Nurgaliyev earned silver.

The performance of our young players is no accident; it is the natural outcome of the immense energy and resources invested in their preparation. For example, Mark Smirnov has now become a world champion for the second time – in 2023, he won the U12 title, having earned silver in the U10 category the year before.

I can say with full confidence that Kazakhstan is building a truly formidable men’s national team. Several players, including Mark, Edgar, and Sauat, have already etched their names into chess history. With the right approach to chess development, we will see even more rising stars.
What are we doing to make this happen?

We are currently hard at work on the 2026 budget. Many programs will undergo adjustments, and our overall approaches will be updated. The primary goal is long-term results, particularly in men’s chess. I expect we will share more detailed information about our results and future plans in December.