Strong Lineup at the Oskemen Open

by André Schulz
7/25/2025 – Oskemen has made a new entry into the international tournament calendar. In the largest city of East Kazakhstan, three open tournaments are currently taking place, including a Masters event featuring nearly 20 grandmasters competing for a substantial prize fund. Oskemen is notable not only for its strong chess field but also for its rich and complex history. Once known as Ust-Kamenogorsk, the city was an important center during the Soviet era and remains a cultural and industrial hub today.
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In Oskemen, the capital of East Kazakhstan Province near the borders with Russia and Mongolia, a chess festival is currently taking place (July 20–30), featuring three open tournaments: the Masters, the Challengers, and a general Open. All three events are played over nine rounds using the Swiss system and FIDE time control (90 minutes plus a 30-second increment).

The organizer is KazChess, with support from the provincial government (Akimat) of East Kazakhstan. The tournament is sponsored by the Kazakh company Freedom Holding, which has provided a generous total prize fund of 100,000 USD.

The Masters is particularly strong, with nearly 20 grandmasters among the 67 participants. The most prominent names include Richard Rapport, the only player rated above 2700 and the top seed, as well as Arkadij Naiditsch and former European Champion Anton Demchenko.

After four rounds, a leading group of four players has emerged, all with 3.5 points. Among them is Richard Rapport, as well as Zeinab Sultanbek. The 21-year-old began the tournament with a forfeit win but then scored 2.5 points from the following games at the board. In round five, she will face Richard Rapport.

Arkadij Naiditsch suffered a loss in the first round against 16-year-old Indian player Mayank Chakraborty and has had to fight his way back up the standings since then.

The idea behind the tournament is to promote tourism in the region. Oskemen, founded in 1720 as a Russian border post, is the largest city in East Kazakhstan, with a population of around 330,000. The largest ethnic group is Russian, making up 58 percent of the population, followed by Kazakhs. The third-largest group consists of residents of German descent. This can be traced back to World War II, when a prisoner-of-war camp — Camp 45, Ust-Kamenogorsk (the Russian name of the city) — was located here for German POWs.

About 300 kilometers west of Ust-Kamenogorsk, the Soviet Union conducted approximately 500 nuclear tests between 1949 and 1989 at the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Radioactive clouds occasionally drifted over Ust-Kamenogorsk, leading to numerous deaths from radiation exposure. The public was not informed, and the number of victims was kept secret.

Öskemen, or Ust-Kamenogorsk, is also the birthplace of many prominent ice hockey players of Russian, Kazakh, and German heritage.

Standings after round 4

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Sultanbek, Zeinep 3,5 9
2 Grebnev, Aleksey 3,5 8,5
3 Rapport, Richard 3,5 5,5
4 Sethuraman, S.P. 3,5 5
5 Agmanov, Zhandos 3 8,5
6 Stribuk, Artiom 3 7,5
7 Atabayev, Saparmyrat 3 7
8 Goganov, Aleksey 3 7
9 Narayanan, S L 3 6,5
10 Suleymenov, Alisher 3 6,5
11 Zverev, Lev 3 6,5
12 Bocharov, Dmitry 3 6
13 Lobanov, Sergei 3 6
14 Tahbaz, Arash 2,5 8,5
15 Balabayeva, Xeniya 2,5 8,5
16 Ilamparthi, A R 2,5 8
17 Rohith, Krishna S 2,5 8
18 Vaz, Ethan 2,5 7,5
19 Makhnev, Denis 2,5 7,5
20 Chinguun, Sumiya 2,5 6,5
21 Uskov, Artem 2,5 6,5
22 Suleimen, Ergali 2,5 6,5
23 Utegaliyev, Azamat 2,5 6,5
24 Lalit, Babu M R 2,5 6,5
25 Ansat, Aldiyar 2,5 6

...67 players

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1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Be3 Qb6 5.Qc1 e6 6.a4 a5 7.Be2 Nd7 8.c3 Ne7 9.Nd2 h6 10.f4 g5 11.g4 gxf4 12.Bxf4 Bg6 13.Ngf3 h5 14.g5 h4 15.Be3 Bf5 16.Kf2 Ng6 17.Re1 Rc8 18.Ra2 Be7 19.Qd1 Kf8 20.Qb3 Qc7 21.Raa1 Kg7 22.Rac1 Qb8 23.Bf1 h3 24.Be2 c5 25.Bb5 cxd4 26.cxd4 Nb6 27.Nf1 Bg4 28.Be2 Rxc1 29.Bxc1 Qd8 30.Ng3 Nc4 31.Rg1 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rapport,R2715Sriram Adarsh Uppala2451½–½2025B12Round 1: Rapport, Richard - Sriram Adar1.1
Mayank Chakraborty2448Naiditsch,A26291–02025C56Round 1: Mayank Chakraborty - Naiditsch1.2
Demchenko,A2610Ayush Sharma24330–12025A46Round 1: Demchenko, Anton - Ayush Sharm1.3
Amartuvshin,G2430Narayanan S L2597½–½2025E18Round 1: Amartuvshin, Ganzorig - Naraya1.4
Azarov,S2590Goutham Krishna H24291–02025C02Round 1: Azarov, Sergei - Goutham Krish1.5
Vaz,E2429Grebnev,A25820–12025B22Round 1: Vaz, Ethan - Grebnev, Aleksey1.6
Sethuraman,S2554Ravi,T2419½–½2025B12Round 1: Sethuraman, S.P. - Ravi, Teja 1.7
Grachev,A2416Lobanov,S2548½–½2025C78Round 1: Grachev, Alexey - Lobanov, Ser1.8
Makhnev,D2535Chinguun,S2415½–½2025A34Round 1: Makhnev, Denis - Chinguun, Sum1.9
Sapenov,D2414Sivuk,V25261–02025A04Round 1: Sapenov, Daniyal - Sivuk, Vita1.10
Bocharov,D2522Sahib Singh24131–02025D31Round 1: Bocharov, Dmitry - Sahib Singh1.11
Shogdzhiev,R2411Pantsulaia,L25201–02025B28Round 1: Shogdzhiev, Roman - Pantsulaia1.12
Nikitenko,M2517Nazari,A24050–12025A37Round 1: Nikitenko, Mihail - Nazari, Ar1.13
Abdilkhair,A2397Goganov,A25160–12025B90Round 1: Abdilkhair, Abilmansur - Gogan1.14
Rohith Krishna S2516Moldagali,B23971–02025D37Round 1: Rohith Krishna S - Moldagali, 1.15
Isanzhulov,A2394Lalit Babu M R2512½–½2025C47Round 1: Isanzhulov, Arystan - Lalit Ba1.16
Atabayev,S2505Lu,M23921–02025B12Round 1: Atabayev, Saparmyrat - Lu, Max1.17
Amilal Munkhdalai2385Ilamparthi A R25000–12025B31Round 1: Amilal Munkhdalai - Ilamparthi1.18
Uskov,A2500Agibileg,U23801–02025A05Round 1: Uskov, Artem - Agibileg, Uurts1.19
Gasparyan,E2372Suleymenov,A24970–12025D96Round 1: Gasparyan, Erik R. - Suleymeno1.20
Urazayev,A2490Akhmedinov,S23650–12025B31Round 1: Urazayev, Arystanbek - Akhmedi1.21
Batkhuyag,M2356Ansat,A2489½–½2025B33Round 1: Batkhuyag, Munguntuul - Ansat,1.22
Agmanov,Z2483Nurgaliyeva,Z23361–02025B12Round 1: Agmanov, Zhandos - Nurgaliyeva1.23
Balabayeva,X2332Zverev,L2480½–½2025E48Round 1: Balabayeva, Xeniya - Zverev, L1.24
Davtyan,A2471Suleimen,E2330½–½2025E94Round 1: Davtyan, Artur - Suleimen, Erg1.25
Khamdamova,A2326Pingin,A2468½–½2025B90Round 1: Khamdamova, Afruza - Pingin, A1.26
Stribuk,A2468Kamalidenova,M23231–02025A14Round 1: Stribuk, Artiom - Kamalidenova1.27
Petukhov,A2313Tahbaz,A24620–12025E68Round 1: Petukhov, Alan - Tahbaz, Arash1.28
Panesar Vedant2462Nurman,A23061–02025B94Round 1: Panesar Vedant - Nurman, Alua1.29
Kaliakhmet,E2306Utegaliyev,A2462½–½2025A40Round 1: Kaliakhmet, Elnaz - Utegaliyev1.30
Zhalmakhanov,R2456Kairbekova,A22730–12025A01Round 1: Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan - Kairbe1.31
Serikbay,A2222Gan-Erdene,S2454½–½2025D38Round 1: Serikbay, Assel - Gan-Erdene, 1.32
Bilguun,S2451Kaldarova,A21381–02025C90Round 1: Bilguun, Sumiya - Kaldarova, A1.33
Tahbaz,A2462Azarov,S25901–02025D31Round 2: Tahbaz, Arash - Azarov, Sergei2.1
Grebnev,A2582Panesar Vedant24621–02025E73Round 2: Grebnev, Aleksey - Panesar Ved2.2
Ayush Sharma2433Bocharov,D25221–02025B90Round 2: Ayush Sharma - Bocharov, Dmitr2.3
Goganov,A2516Bilguun,S24511–02025B90Round 2: Goganov, Aleksey - Bilguun, Su2.4
Sapenov,D2414Rohith Krishna S2516½–½2025C88Round 2: Sapenov, Daniyal - Rohith Kris2.5
Nazari,A2405Atabayev,S25050–12025C50Round 2: Nazari, Arad - Atabayev, Sapar2.6
Ilamparthi A R2500Mayank Chakraborty24481–02025B40Round 2: Ilamparthi A R - Mayank Chakra2.7
Akhmedinov,S2365Uskov,A25001–02025B51Round 2: Akhmedinov, Satbek - Uskov, Ar2.8
Suleymenov,A2497Shogdzhiev,R2411½–½2025D45Round 2: Suleymenov, Alisher - Shogdzhi2.9
Kairbekova,A2273Agmanov,Z24830–12025B12Round 2: Kairbekova, Amina - Agmanov, Z2.10
Sultanbek,Z2067Stribuk,A24681–02025A42Round 2: Sultanbek, Zeinep - Stribuk, A2.11
Ravi,T2419Rapport,R27150–12025A80Round 2: Ravi, Teja S. - Rapport, Richa2.12
Narayanan S L2597Grachev,A24161–02025D38Round 2: Narayanan S L - Grachev, Alexe2.13
Sriram Adarsh Uppala2451Sethuraman,S25540–12025B44Round 2: Sriram Adarsh Uppala - Sethura2.14
Lobanov,S2548Amartuvshin,G24301–02025A05Round 2: Lobanov, Sergei - Amartuvshin,2.15
Suleimen,E2330Makhnev,D2535½–½2025C78Round 2: Suleimen, Ergali - Makhnev, De2.16
Lalit Babu M R2512Batkhuyag,M23561–02025A07Round 2: Lalit Babu M R - Batkhuyag, Mu2.17
Ansat,A2489Isanzhulov,A2394½–½2025B56Round 2: Ansat, Aldiyar - Isanzhulov, A2.18
Zverev,L2480Khamdamova,A2326½–½2025D37Round 2: Zverev, Lev - Khamdamova, Afru2.19
Chinguun,S2415Davtyan,A24711–02025C54Round 2: Chinguun, Sumiya - Davtyan, Ar2.20
Pingin,A2468Balabayeva,X23320–12025E05Round 2: Pingin, Artem - Balabayeva, Xe2.21
Utegaliyev,A2462Serikbay,A22221–02025B50Round 2: Utegaliyev, Azamat - Serikbay,2.22
Gan-Erdene,S2454Kaliakhmet,E23061–02025E04Round 2: Gan-Erdene, Sugar - Kaliakhmet2.23
Naiditsch,A2629Abdilkhair,A23971–02025B30Round 2: Naiditsch, Arkadij - Abdilkhai2.24
Moldagali,B2397Demchenko,A2610½–½2025C07Round 2: Moldagali, Beksultan - Demchen2.25
Lu,M2392Sivuk,V25260–12025A13Round 2: Lu, Maximillian - Sivuk, Vital2.26
Pantsulaia,L2520Amilal Munkhdalai23851–02025A05Round 2: Pantsulaia, Levan - Amilal Mun2.27
Agibileg,U2380Nikitenko,M2517½–½2025E39Round 2: Agibileg, Uurtsaikh - Nikitenk2.28
Nurgaliyeva,Z2336Urazayev,A2490½–½2025B30Round 2: Nurgaliyeva, Zarina - Urazayev2.29
Kamalidenova,M2323Zhalmakhanov,R24560–12025C56Round 2: Kamalidenova, Meruert - Zhalma2.30
Goutham Krishna H2429Gasparyan,E2372½–½2025A15Round 2: Goutham Krishna H - Gasparyan,2.31
Nurman,A2306Vaz,E24290–12025B31Round 2: Nurman, Alua - Vaz, Ethan2.32
Sahib Singh2413Petukhov,A23130–12025B33Round 2: Sahib Singh - Petukhov, Alan2.33
Agmanov,Z2483Grebnev,A2582½–½2025B96Round 3: Agmanov, Zhandos - Grebnev, Al3.1
Tahbaz,A2462Goganov,A2516½–½2025D41Round 3: Tahbaz, Arash - Goganov, Aleks3.2
Atabayev,S2505Ayush Sharma24331–02025B90Round 3: Atabayev, Saparmyrat - Ayush S3.3
Ilamparthi A R2500Sultanbek,Z2067½–½2025C84Round 3: Ilamparthi A R - Sultanbek, Ze3.4
Rapport,R2715Akhmedinov,S23651–02025A05Round 3: Rapport, Richard - Akhmedinov,3.5
Utegaliyev,A2462Narayanan S L2597½–½2025B23Round 3: Utegaliyev, Azamat - Narayanan3.6
Sethuraman,S2554Gan-Erdene,S24541–02025B89Round 3: Sethuraman, S.P. - Gan-Erdene,3.7
Lobanov,S2548Sapenov,D2414½–½2025A29Round 3: Lobanov, Sergei - Sapenov, Dan3.8
Rohith Krishna S2516Chinguun,S24151–02025D52Round 3: Rohith Krishna S - Chinguun, S3.9
Shogdzhiev,R2411Lalit Babu M R2512½–½2025C50Round 3: Shogdzhiev, Roman - Lalit Babu3.10
Balabayeva,X2332Suleymenov,A2497½–½2025D31Round 3: Balabayeva, Xeniya - Suleymeno3.11
Zhalmakhanov,R2456Naiditsch,A2629½–½2025C67Round 3: Zhalmakhanov, Ramazan - Naidit3.12
Azarov,S2590Bilguun,S2451½–½2025B41Round 3: Azarov, Sergei - Bilguun, Sumi3.13
Makhnev,D2535Mayank Chakraborty24481–02025A14Round 3: Makhnev, Denis - Mayank Chakra3.14
Sivuk,V2526Vaz,E24290–12025D38Round 3: Sivuk, Vitaly - Vaz, Ethan3.15
Bocharov,D2522Nazari,A24051–02025E46Round 3: Bocharov, Dmitry - Nazari, Ara3.16
Isanzhulov,A2394Pantsulaia,L25201–02025B41Round 3: Isanzhulov, Arystan - Pantsula3.17
Uskov,A2500Suleimen,E2330½–½2025E61Round 3: Uskov, Artem - Suleimen, Ergal3.18
Khamdamova,A2326Ansat,A24890–12025B33Round 3: Khamdamova, Afruza - Ansat, Al3.19
Petukhov,A2313Zverev,L24800–12025A07Round 3: Petukhov, Alan - Zverev, Lev3.20
Stribuk,A2468Kairbekova,A22731–02025A05Round 3: Stribuk, Artiom - Kairbekova, 3.21
Kaldarova,A2138Panesar Vedant24621–02025B29Round 3: Kaldarova, Ayaulym - Panesar V3.22
Demchenko,A2610Ravi,T24191–02025B10Round 3: Demchenko, Anton - Ravi, Teja 3.23
Nikitenko,M2517Grachev,A2416½–½2025C24Round 3: Nikitenko, Mihail - Grachev, A3.24
Urazayev,A2490Moldagali,B23971–02025C84Round 3: Urazayev, Arystanbek - Moldaga3.25
Davtyan,A2471Agibileg,U2380½–½2025B48Round 3: Davtyan, Artur - Agibileg, Uur3.26
Gasparyan,E2372Pingin,A24680–12025E10Round 3: Gasparyan, Erik R. - Pingin, A3.27
Batkhuyag,M2356Sriram Adarsh Uppala24511–02025B00Round 3: Batkhuyag, Munguntuul - Sriram3.28
Amartuvshin,G2430Nurgaliyeva,Z23361–02025E11Round 3: Amartuvshin, Ganzorig - Nurgal3.29
Kaliakhmet,E2306Goutham Krishna H2429½–½2025A40Round 3: Kaliakhmet, Elnaz - Goutham Kr3.30
Serikbay,A2222Sahib Singh24130–12025A54Round 3: Serikbay, Assel - Sahib Singh3.31
Abdilkhair,A2397Kamalidenova,M2323½–½2025C67Round 3: Abdilkhair, Abilmansur - Kamal3.32
Amilal Munkhdalai2385Lu,M2392½–½2025B44Round 3: Amilal Munkhdalai - Lu, Maximi3.33
Grebnev,A2582Atabayev,S25051–02025A06Round 4: Grebnev, Aleksey - Atabayev, S4.1
Rapport,R2715Ilamparthi A R25001–02025A48Round 4: Rapport, Richard - Ilamparthi 4.2
Sethuraman,S2554Tahbaz,A24621–02025B01Round 4: Sethuraman, S.P. - Tahbaz, Ara4.3
Goganov,A2516Agmanov,Z2483½–½2025B90Round 4: Goganov, Aleksey - Agmanov, Zh4.4
Sultanbek,Z2067Rohith Krishna S25161–02025E00Round 4: Sultanbek, Zeinep - Rohith Kri4.5
Narayanan S L2597Shogdzhiev,R24111–02025D45Round 4: Narayanan S L - Shogdzhiev, Ro4.6
Ayush Sharma2433Lobanov,S25480–12025C78Round 4: Ayush Sharma - Lobanov, Sergei4.7
Vaz,E2429Makhnev,D2535½–½2025C88Round 4: Vaz, Ethan - Makhnev, Denis4.8
Sapenov,D2414Bocharov,D25220–12025B95Round 4: Sapenov, Daniyal - Bocharov, D4.9
Lalit Babu M R2512Utegaliyev,A2462½–½2025A05Round 4: Lalit Babu M R - Utegaliyev, A4.10
Suleymenov,A2497Isanzhulov,A23941–02025D39Round 4: Suleymenov, Alisher - Isanzhul4.11
Ansat,A2489Balabayeva,X2332½–½2025C65Round 4: Ansat, Aldiyar - Balabayeva, X4.12
Zverev,L2480Kaldarova,A21381–02025C54Round 4: Zverev, Lev - Kaldarova, Ayaul4.13
Akhmedinov,S2365Stribuk,A24680–12025B23Round 4: Akhmedinov, Satbek - Stribuk, 4.14
Naiditsch,A2629Amartuvshin,G24301–02025C95Round 4: Naiditsch, Arkadij - Amartuvsh4.15
Gan-Erdene,S2454Demchenko,A26100–12025E68Round 4: Gan-Erdene, Sugar - Demchenko,4.16
Chinguun,S2415Azarov,S25901–02025B30Round 4: Chinguun, Sumiya - Azarov, Ser4.17
Bilguun,S2451Uskov,A25000–12025B47Round 4: Bilguun, Sumiya - Uskov, Artem4.18
Batkhuyag,M2356Urazayev,A24900–12025C84Round 4: Batkhuyag, Munguntuul - Urazay4.19
Pingin,A2468Zhalmakhanov,R24561–02025A05Round 4: Pingin, Artem - Zhalmakhanov, 4.20
Suleimen,E2330Sivuk,V25261–02025B11Round 4: Suleimen, Ergali - Sivuk, Vita4.21
Pantsulaia,L2520Sahib Singh24130–12025E62Round 4: Pantsulaia, Levan - Sahib Sing4.22
Kairbekova,A2273Nikitenko,M25171–02025C19Round 4: Kairbekova, Amina - Nikitenko,4.23
Nazari,A2405Davtyan,A2471½–½2025C36Round 4: Nazari, Arad - Davtyan, Artur4.24
Panesar Vedant2462Khamdamova,A2326½–½2025C50Round 4: Panesar Vedant - Khamdamova, A4.25
Mayank Chakraborty2448Petukhov,A23130–12025B33Round 4: Mayank Chakraborty - Petukhov,4.26
Goutham Krishna H2429Nurman,A2306½–½2025A15Round 4: Goutham Krishna H - Nurman, Al4.27
Grachev,A2416Kaliakhmet,E23061–02025C55Round 4: Grachev, Alexey - Kaliakhmet, 4.28
Agibileg,U2380Sriram Adarsh Uppala24511–02025E90Round 4: Agibileg, Uurtsaikh - Sriram A4.29
Ravi,T2419Amilal Munkhdalai2385½–½2025D37Round 4: Ravi, Teja S. - Amilal Munkhda4.30
Nurgaliyeva,Z2336Abdilkhair,A23971–02025B12Round 4: Nurgaliyeva, Zarina - Abdilkha4.31
Moldagali,B2397Gasparyan,E23720–12025C07Round 4: Moldagali, Beksultan - Gaspary4.32
Lu,M2392Serikbay,A22221–02025D37Round 4: Lu, Maximillian - Serikbay, As4.33

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60m English The Elephant Gambit

The Elephant Gambit (1.e4.e5 2.Nf3 d5!?) has never really been given the attention it deserves. It is a very useful surprise weapon. Let us list the advantages of playing this particular opening: 1) Shock value 2) It is very aggressive. Black can take over the initiative early. 3) Many tricky lines 4) Unorthodox. Black is basically taking the game to the opponent as early as move two. Not many openings do that! It's a perfect opening for young players and club players to adopt. Let Andrew Martin select a repertoire for you on this 60 mins, which, if used with discretion, will rack up the points. I am sure that you will enjoy this unusual tour of the Elephant Gambit.
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