Press release by Daria Barkova
From December 13 to 23, the Kazakhstan Chess Championship took place in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan. The participants needed 13 rounds to determine the winner, and for the first time in the history of the championship, five chess players had the same number of points in the final standings.
According to the Regulations of the Championship, Aldiyar Ansat, Arystanbek Urazaev, Denis Makhnev, Alisher Suleimenov, and Abilmansur Abdilkhair had to play a tiebreak in rapid chess to determine the final ranking.
After winning the first two games, Aldiyar Ansat confidently maintained his lead and became the champion of Kazakhstan. It’s important to note that the chess player broke an 85-year-old record, which had been held since 1938 when Shamsidin Murzagaliyev became the champion of Kazakhstan at the age of 16, while the new champion is only 15 years old.
Arystanbek Urazaev and Denis Makhnev shared the second and third places.
Aldiyar Ansat
Among the women, the winner was determined long before the final round. Ksenia Balabaeva demonstrated very confident play throughout the tournament, and in the last round, she only needed to draw her game to win the gold medal. The player from Almaty held the draw and became the national champion for the first time in her career.
The second place also went to an Almaty master: Alua Nurmanova. Third place was shared by three participants: Madina Davletbayeva, Liya Kurmangaliyeva, and Zeynep Sultanbek. According to the tiebreak criteria, the bronze medal went to the experienced Madina Davletbayeva (Taraz).
Ksenia Balabaeva
Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, asserted:
I sincerely congratulate the winners and prize-winners. The championship showed the strength of the Kazakhstani youth and its excellent prospects. This is the result of the great work done by the players themselves and their coaches.
An important role was played by the experience gained in participating in major international championships, as well as training camps with the involvement of leading specialists. I am confident that tomorrow the new champions will represent our country with dignity at the world championships.
After 13 rounds
| 1 | GM | Makhnev, Denis | 2486 | 8 |
| 2 | GM | Suleymenov, Alisher | 2513 | 8 |
| 3 | IM | Urazayev, Arystanbek | 2472 | 8 |
| 4 | IM | Ansat, Aldiyar | 2434 | 8 |
| 5 | FM | Abdilkhair, Abilmansur | 2255 | 8 |
| 6 | FM | Sapenov, Daniyal | 2350 | 7½ |
| 7 | IM | Nogerbek, Kazybek | 2483 | 7½ |
| 8 | IM | Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan | 2493 | 7 |
| 9 | IM | Isanzhulov, Arystan | 2407 | 7 |
| 10 | Utegaliyev, Azamat | 2416 | 6½ | |
| 11 | IM | Agmanov, Zhandos | 2460 | 5½ |
| 12 | GM | Kazhgaleyev, Murtas | 2490 | 5 |
| 13 | Amirali, Abzal | 2136 | 3½ | |
| 14 | Tkachyov, Adil | 2078 | 1½ |
After 9 rounds
| 1 | WIM | Balabayeva, Xeniya | 2244 | 7½ |
| 2 | WIM | Nurmanova, Alua | 2326 | 6½ |
| 3 | WGM | Davletbayeva, Madina | 2216 | 5 |
| 4 | FM | Kurmangaliyeva, Liya | 2261 | 5 |
| 5 | WIM | Sultanbek, Zeinep | 2008 | 5 |
| 6 | Kaldarova, Ayaulym | 2015 | 4½ | |
| 7 | WIM | Serikbay, Assel | 2186 | 4 |
| 8 | WIM | Kairbekova, Amina | 2235 | 4 |
| 9 | Popandopulo, Kristina | 1865 | 2½ | |
| 10 | WCM | Kim, Kristina | 1933 | 1 |
