Hong beats Sarana in crucial final-round clash

21-year-old US grandmaster Andrew Hong won the Masters section of the Aktobe Open 2026 – Vladimir Dvorkovich Memorial after finishing as the only player on 7/9 points. The tournament was held at the ACE Tennis Centre in Aktobe, a major city in western Kazakhstan, and formed part of the 2026–27 FIDE Circuit.

The event was organised by FIDE, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and the Akimat of the Aktobe Region. The event was supported by general partners Freedom Holding Corp. and the Aktobe Copper Company, alongside tournament partners Herbalife and the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation.

Master your Technique Vol.3 - Practical Techniques you must know

In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
After mastering positional play in Volume 1 and learning how to convert small advantages in Volume 2 of the Master Your Technique series, GM Mikhalchishin now presents Essential Techniques, covering topics from playing on the flank versus the center to maintaining tactical vigilance. In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital. He shows how top players apply it, but also how even grandmasters sometimes miss critical resources, highlighting the necessity of developing a strong “tactical sense.” This approach encompasses tactical vigilance and scanning for sacrifices, but is also highly relevant to the second part of the course, which focuses on more strategic elements such as the use of heavy pieces and endgame technique.
Free Video Sample: Simple Tactics
Free Video Sample: Mating Net: Ne7+ Qxh7 Rh5+

The wider festival attracted 210 players from 21 countries and was divided into two nine-round Swiss tournaments: a Masters section for players rated 2400 and above, and an Open section for players below that mark.

The Masters tournament featured 81 players and was played with a classical time control of 90 minutes per player, plus a 30-second increment from move one. The Open section had 129 participants and followed the same format.

The playing hall | Photo: KazChess

The fight for first place in the Masters remained open until the final day. Hong, Wang Hao and Alexey Sarana entered round nine sharing the lead on 6/8. Hong was paired against Sarana, while Wang Hao faced Kazakh grandmaster Denis Makhnev.

Hong defeated Sarana to move to 7 points, while Wang Hao lost to Makhnev.

Top 7 boards - Round 9

The ninth-round results left the player from San Jose (California) in clear first place, half a point ahead of the chasing group. Four players finished on 6½ points: Kazakhstan's IM Daniyal Sapenov, Daniil Dubov, representing FIDE, Iran's GM Mahdi Gholami Orimi and the aforementioned Kazakh GM Denis Makhnev.

Sapenov took second place on Buchholz tiebreaks, with Dubov completing the podium.

The Scotch Game

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

Polina Shuvalova, representing FIDE, was the top-scoring female player in the Masters section. Kazakhstan's Liya Kurmangaliyeva finished second among the women, ahead of India's Harika Dronavalli.

Liya Kurmangaliyeva, Polina Shuvalova and Harika Dronavalli excelled among the women players and reached the podium | Photo: KazChess

Final standings

...81 players

All available games

Links

• Official website
• Full technical information on Chess-Results: Masters | Open