04/23/2024
- Who We Are
More than 900 young Kazakhstani chess players took part in the online chess tournament "Cup of International Grandmaster Darmen Sadvakasov". The organizers of the big republican competition were the Baiterek holding, the Darmen Sadvakasov Chess Academy and the Bolashak Association.
The tournament was held in three age categories - up to 10, 14 and 18 years old. In the youngest group in the overall standings, Edgar Mamedov became the winner, followed by Alikhan Khazhatuly and Mark Smirnov. Among girls, the top three winners were Malika Dzhapparbekova, Assiya Asylkhan and Elnaz Kaliakhmet.
Satbek Akhmedinov, who was ahead of Orash Shonazarov and Nurdaulet Tanatov, celebrated victory in the U14 category in the overall standings. The girls distributed the awards in the following order: Amina Kairbekova, Alua Nurmanova and Anastasia Pereima.
And, finally, in the most representative tournament under 18, where the leading Kazakhstani juniors fought, Kazybek Nogerbek, Tamerlan Bekturov and Abylai Akhmetzhan became the leaders of the overall standings. Among the girls are Ksenia Balabayeva, Asel Serikbay and Nazerke Nurgali.
In addition, a dozen young athletes were awarded additional prizes.
The main task of the initiators of the tournament was to organize a big chess festival. Against the background of serious quarantine restrictions, the online format became the only possible solution to gather all the strongest domestic children and juniors in the tournament. In such a difficult time, gifted children need support and stimulation of sports achievements more than ever.
The 14th world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) and the winner of the World Chess Cup, contender for the world title Boris Gelfand (Israel) addressed the participants of the Cup with warm wishes. On behalf of domestic sports stars, Olympic Boxing Champions Yermakhan Ibraimov and Serik Sapiev, four-time world weightlifting champion Ilya Ilyin, four-time world champion in MMA, karate and JIU-jitsu Aidar Makhmetov, Asian and Asian games champion in rhythmic gymnastics Anna alyabyeva and international grandmaster, world champion under 20 Darmen Sadvakasov gave instructions to the children.
The online opening ceremony of the competition was attended by the chairman of the board of the Baiterek holding Aidar Arifkhanov and the deputy akim of the city of Nur-Sultan, the chairman of the Council of the Bolashak Association Bakhtiyar Maken.
A large team of professionals was involved in holding the Cup - leading Kazakhstani grandmasters, international referees, experts from the lichess.org gaming platform, as well as representatives of the co-organizers of the competition - the Baiterek holding, the Darmen Sadvakasov Chess Academy and the Bolashak Association.
Particular attention was paid to combating cheating - the main challenge of modern online chess. The judges of the tournament followed the recommendations of FIDE, which takes a very tough stance against violators of Fair Play. The tough measures taken by the Anti-Cheating Commission will strengthen the confidence of chess players in the steadfastness of fair play.
Young players, judges and organizers have gained invaluable experience in the new format of the official tournament. Next time it will help to create an even more festive and sporty atmosphere for the Cup.
