ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s women’s chess team won silver at the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, finishing the 11-round tournament undefeated with 18 points. China won gold, while India took bronze.
Photo credit: Sports Development Directorate
Undefeated run
Held from Sept. 16 to 27, the Olympiad brought together nearly 400 teams. Kazakhstan finished second among 189 women’s teams, recording seven wins and four draws.
The team faced Poland in the final, and the match ended in a draw. The silver medal marks Kazakhstan’s second consecutive runner-up finish, following the team’s result at the 2024 Olympiad in Hungary.
The Kazakhstan lineup comprised Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alua Nurman, Meruyert Kamalidenova, Yelnaz Kaliakhmet and Zarina Nurgaliyeva. For 16-year-olds Kaliakhmet and Nurgaliyeva, the tournament marked their Olympic debuts, reported Kazinform.
Kazakhstan has competed in the women’s section of the Chess Olympiad since 1992. This year, the team recorded its first undefeated campaign. Assaubayeva also extended her unbeaten run across three consecutive Olympiads.
Men’s team finishes with 15 points
Kazakhstan’s men’s team drew 2-2 with Vietnam in the final round. It finished the tournament with 15 points from six wins, three draws and two losses.
Uzbekistan won the men’s competition, followed by India in second place and Germany in third. Germany secured its first Olympic medal since 2000, when it won silver.
Timur Turlov elected FIDE President
Kazakhstan Chess Federation President Timur Turlov was elected president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) on Sept. 26 during the organization’s General Assembly in Samarkand, held alongside the Olympiad.
Turlov received 110 of 196 votes.
He has headed the Kazakhstan Chess Federation since 2023. During his tenure, Kazakhstan hosted the World Chess Championship match and the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Championships.
