ASTANA – Six Kazakh representatives recently gained membership in the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Commission for the first time, reports the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KCF) press service.
Traditionally, prominent chess players who have made a significant contribution to the game’s development in their country receive membership, which is determined once every three years.
“The decision of the FIDE Presidential Council in favour of six representatives from Kazakhstan at once is an indicator of our great appreciation of KCF’s work under the leadership of Galimzhan Yessenov,” said KCF Executive Director Irina Grishchenko, who was elected to oversee FIDE’s social affairs. “Throughout our time operating (in the country), our team has achieved immense success in promoting chess here and we are not going to stop there.”
Grandmaster Darmen Sadvakasov will oversee the commission’s global strategy, International Master and Woman Grandmaster Dinara Saduakassova will oversee rules and tournament regulations, Woman International Master Gulmira Dauletova will oversee systems of pairings and programmes, Grandmaster Yevgeny Vladimirov will oversee chess in education and KCF Vice President Zhandos Abishev will oversee events. Additionally, KCF Vice President Berik Balgabayev will advise FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich.
Overall, the commission includes 224 people from more than 130 countries. Earlier, Kazakhstan was not represented in the commission and now has the greatest number of representatives after Russia and the United States.
“Following this year, even more opportunities are open to Kazakhstan. This not only concerns the game’s development in the country,” said Abishev. “We are now part of the federation, influencing decision making in the FIDE on key areas. This is a serious step forward, indicative of our country’s immense potential in the global chess arena.”
FIDE, founded in France in 1924, is an international organisation connecting national chess federations and governing international chess competitions. Its close work with KCF has resulted in several achievements. Now, Kazakh chess players may meet FIDE Master, International Master and Grandmaster standards at national tournaments, without going abroad. KCF also hosts international tournaments, such as the Astana Open international chess festival, and regularly sends its national chess team to compete at official FIDE tournaments.
