The 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Astana has reached its half-way mark – the equator of this inspiring event. With Round 3 underway, the excitement and determination in the playing hall grow stronger each day.
The first ceremonial move of the round was made by Dinara Naumova, Member of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, together with Akaki Iashvili, FIDE Special Tasks Director.
“Before the first move, I spoke with the contestants – they were positive and confident. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the team spirit is inspiring,” said Dinara Naumova.
“It’s an honour for Kazakhstan to host this event. I wish every player success and the strength to never give up. Team spirit makes us stronger.”
Her words perfectly captured the spirit of the event – one of unity, resilience, and shared joy.
The strength and spirit of the players
Every participant at this Olympiad has a remarkable story. For them, every move on the board represents persistence, focus, and the triumph of the human spirit.
Luisa Molina, from Team Colombia, shared her joy at being part of this inclusive event:
“This Olympiad for People with Disabilities has been one of the best experiences we’ve ever had! This isn’t your usual event – it provides a space for inclusion.”
Aryan Joshi from India, a first-time participant, was full of enthusiasm and optimism:
“Feeling amazing – this is my first Olympiad for people with disabilities. Despite disabilities, despite the challenges on and off the board, everyone here is giving their best. Everyone is very friendly and very happy. Disability is not something that makes us less – we are differently able, not disabled.”
Niloy Chakraborty, a coach for players with hearing impairments and an accompanying person at the event, emphasized the importance of opportunity:
“I’ve worked with disabled students for a long time. I’ve shown them tournaments, helped them find opportunities, and organized many events for differently able teams. Here, everyone can participate – and they do, as equals.”
Eugenio Campos, representing the IPCA team, coming from Angola, shared how chess became part of his life from a very young age:
“This is a well-organized event; it gives us, players with disabilities, the opportunity to play against others from different countries. I thank IPCA, FIDE, and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. I started chess when I was five – my cousin taught me, and since then, chess has meant a lot to me.
Most of my life, I’ve played chess – it’s everything to me.”
Another remarkable player of IPCA team is IM Igor Yarmonov from Ukraine, a five-time IPCA World Champion and International Master of both chess and chess composition. His wife and accompanying person, Galina Yarmonova shared:
“We are grateful to all the organisers, volunteers, and staff for the wonderful atmosphere in Astana, for the excellent conditions for the players and their companions – everything is of the highest standard! This is our first time at such an Olympiad, and we thank the referees and volunteers for their kind, individual approach to each player.”
“Throughout Igor’s life, chess has helped him overcome challenges and see the world – and we are happy to represent this big chess family,” she added.
Even after the event, Igor continues contributing to the chess world as a judge for multi-move problems in the FIDE Album – evaluating compositions from around the globe.
Inspiration beyond the board
Every player finds their own motivation to keep going, and we asked, “Who is your favourite chess player in history?” Answers came quickly and with admiration: Magnus Carlsen, José Capablanca, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Bobby Fischer, and Mikhail Tal were among the most mentioned.
But one response stood out. Jesús Osorio from Panama said:
“My favourite chess player is not a famous person, but he is a very good chess player – my friend Osvaldo Herrera Graham.”
A beautiful reminder that inspiration doesn’t only come from world champions, but also from those who encourage us personally – friends, coaches, and loved ones who share the same passion.
The battle for the top
Position of the day
Today’s Position of the Day came from the exciting battle between Syed Ejaz Husain (Bangladesh) and Ben Kaufmann (Germany).
Although Black’s position was slightly worse, they could still defend with 20…Nd6, trading off White’s active knight on f5. Instead, 20…Ne6?? was played, ignoring of White’s mounting kingside pressure.
White immediately took advantage with 21. Ne5!, and after 21…Ra6?!, taking no heed of danger, came 22. Qg4 — launching a decisive attack. Black tried 22…Kh7, defeinding h6, but the storm was already breaking.
White delivered a stunning blow 23. Nxh6!!, a brilliant sacrifice that ripped open Black’s kingside. After 23…gxh6 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. Qxf7+ Kh8 26. Ng6#, it was checkmate.
This brilliant finish reminds us of one of the great lessons of chess — and life: sometimes, you must take risks and trust your calculation. Evaluating, understanding, and acting with courage can lead to victory both on and off the board.
Looking ahead
As the Olympiad crosses its midpoint, the energy in Astana continues to rise. Every player here proves that chess is not only a sport of the mind, but a triumph of spirit, inclusion, and shared humanity.
The standings after Round 3 and pairings for Round 4 can be found here:
Chess Results – 2nd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities
Official website: dis-olympiad2025.fide.com/
