Astana stood at the crossroads of the Turkic world from May 14 to 17, 2026, capturing its significance across several domains. On the eve of the event, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a state visit to the capital of Kazakhstan at the invitation of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Concurrently, on May 15, Turkistan hosted an informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States dedicated to Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.
Against this backdrop, the Kazakh National University of Sports in Astana hosted two major chess events: the inaugural Turkic Open and Women’s Team Chess Championships 2026 and the Turkic Youth U16 Chess Olympiad 2026.
Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, highlighted the significance of this coincidence: “Kazakhstan is the first in the region to host this new tournament for the Turkic world. It is highly symbolic that the event coincides with the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Astana. Under our President’s policy, Kazakhstan is consistently strengthening its position within the Turkic space, and chess is becoming a prominent tool of this diplomacy. It is no longer just a sport, but a vital element of friendship between our nations.”
Serik Zharasbayev, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, extended a warm welcome to the audience at the opening ceremony: “On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, I would like to thank all the participants and heads of delegations for joining us. I also want to personally thank Timur Turlov for his immense contribution as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. We are already seeing the fruits of this labor. Today, we have world-class players achieving great success on the international stage—talents like Kazybek Nogerbek and Bibisara Assaubayeva, who made history as our country’s first three-time World Rapid Champion. This is a monumental achievement. I wish everyone continued success. Onward to new heights and great victories!”
In each of the three categories (Open, Women, and Youth U16), seven national teams competed in a round-robin system. The participating nations were Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, with the latter fielding two teams in each tournament as the host nation. Each team line-up consisted of four main players, one reserve, and a captain. The competitions used the new classical 45+30 format, allocating 45 minutes per game with a 30-second increment for every move. The guaranteed prize fund amounted to 27 million tenge (approximately 54,000 US dollars). The event was organized by FIDE, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), the Kazakh National University of Sports, and the Akimat of Astana. Freedom Holding Corp. served as the General Partner of the championship.
The Open Championship
The open tournament brought together 13 Grandmasters and 18 International Masters. The battle for the title lasted until the last moments of the final round.
The national team of Kyrgyzstan delivered the biggest upset of the final round by defeating the higher-rated Uzbek team with a score of 3-1, remaining undefeated on every single board. This result largely shaped the final standings: both Kazakhstan-2 and Kazakhstan-1 won their respective final matches to ascend to the top of the standings, followed by Azerbaijan.
Final Standings (Turkic Open Team Chess Championships 2026):
- Kazakhstan-2: 9 match points, 13½ board points (Prize: 5 million tenge, approximately $10,000)
- Kazakhstan-1: 8 match points, 13 board points (Prize: 3.5 million tenge, approximately $7,000)
- Azerbaijan: 7 match points, 14½ board points (Prize: 2 million tenge, approximately $4,000)
- Uzbekistan: 7 match points, 12½ board points
- Turkey: 5 match points, 12 board points
- Kyrgyzstan: 5 match points, 9½ board points
- Turkmenistan: 1 match point, 9 board points
Best Individual Board Results:
Board 1: 1. IM Zhandos Agmanov (Kazakhstan-2, 4½ points); 2. GM Ahmad Ahmadzada (Azerbaijan, 4 points); 3. GM Saparmyrat Atabayev (Turkmenistan, 3½ points).
Board 2: 1. GM Denis Makhnev (Kazakhstan-1, 4 points); 2. GM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (Kazakhstan-2, 3½ points); 3. GM Misratdin Iskandarov (Azerbaijan, 3½ points).
Board 3: 1. IM Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan-1, 4 points); 2. IM Arda Camlar (Turkey, 3 points); 3. IM Satbek Akhmedinov (Kazakhstan-2, 3 points).
Board 4: 1. IM Tologontegin Semetey (Kyrgyzstan, 3½ points); 2. IM Saidakbar Saydaliev (Uzbekistan, 3½ points); 3. IM Shiroglan Talibov (Azerbaijan, 2½ points).
Board 5: 1. IM Murad Ibrahimli (Azerbaijan, 3½ points); 2. IM Umut Ata Akbas (Turkey, 3½ points).
The Women’s Championship
The Women’s tournament featured six International Masters, five Woman Grandmasters, and five Woman International Masters. The national team of Azerbaijan entered as the clear favorite, fielding the exact same powerhouse line-up that secured the silver medal at the 2025 World Team Chess Championship with IM Ulviyya Fataliyeva (2450, ranked world No. 25 in the FIDE standings) and IM Gunay Mammadzada (2374) on first and second boards, respectively. Uzbekistan’s formidable roster included WGM Afruza Khamdamova (2423, ranked world No. 34 in the FIDE standings) and WGM Umida Omonova (2357).
The women’s competition was equally exciting, with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan pitted against each other in the final round. Azerbaijan, having a two-point advantage, secured a draw against Uzbekistan to successfully defend their first-place position. Meanwhile, the Kazakhstan-1 team delivered a dominant 3½–½ victory over Turkmenistan to leapfrog Uzbekistan and claim the silver spot on the podium.
Final Standings (Turkic Women’s Team Chess Championship 2026):
- Azerbaijan: 10 match points, 18½ board points (Prize: 5 million tenge, approximately $10,000)
- Kazakhstan-1: 9 match points, 16½ board points (Prize: 3.5 million tenge, approximately $7,000)
- Uzbekistan: 8 match points, 15½ board points (Prize: 2 million tenge, approximately $4,000)
- Kazakhstan-2: 6 match points, 13 board points
- Turkmenistan: 6 match points, 11 board points
- Kyrgyzstan: 2 match points, 4½ board points
- Turkey: 1 match point, 5 board points
Best individual board results:
Board 1: 1. WGM Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan, 4½ points); 2. WGM Liya Kurmangaliyeva (Kazakhstan-2, 4 points); 3. WFM Lala Shokhradova (Turkmenistan, 3½ points).
Board 2: 1. IM Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan-1, 5½ points); 2. WGM Umida Omonova (Uzbekistan, 3½ points); 3. WIM Assel Serikbay (Kazakhstan-2, 3 points).
Board 3: 1. WGM Govhar Beydullayeva (Azerbaijan, 4½ points); 2. WFM Jahan Rejepova (Turkmenistan, 3 points); 3. WIM Guldona Karimova (Uzbekistan, 2½ points).
Board 4: 1. IM Khanim Balajayeva (Azerbaijan, 4½ points); 2. WCM Madinabonu Khalilova (Uzbekistan, 4 points); 3. WFM Aiaru Altynbek (Kazakhstan-2, 3 points).
Board 5: 1. IM Gulnar Mammadova (Azerbaijan, 4 points); 2. WIM Zarina Nurgaliyeva (Kazakhstan-1, 3 points); 3. WFM Alanna Berikkyzy (Kazakhstan-2, 2½ points).
The Youth U16 Olympiad
In the youth tournament, the national team of Azerbaijan, consisting of IM Khagan Ahmad (2472), FM Shamsi Garakhanov (2316), Pasham Alizade (2252), and WFM Lala Huseynova (2149), secured first place ahead of schedule. The remaining spots on the podium went to the host country’s selections: the Kazakhstan-1 team whitewashed Turkey 4-0 in their final encounter, while Kazakhstan-2 locked in their top-three finish by overcoming Kyrgyzstan with a 3-1 victory.
Final Standings (Turkic Youth U16 Chess Olympiad 2026):
- Azerbaijan: 10 match points, 16 board points (Prize: 2.5 million tenge, approximately $5,000)
- Kazakhstan-1: 9 match points, 18 board points (Prize: 2 million tenge, approximately $4,000)
- Kazakhstan-2: 7 match points, 13 board points (Prize: 1.5 million tenge, approximately $3,000)
- Turkey: 7 match points, 11 board points
- Uzbekistan: 6 match points, 13 board points
- Kyrgyzstan: 3 match points, 8 board points
- Turkmenistan: 0 match points, 5 board points
Best individual board results:
Board 1: 1. IM Khagan Ahmad (Azerbaijan, 6 points); 2. IM Sauat Nurgaliyev (Kazakhstan-1, 5 points); 3. FM Nazar Talgatov (Kazakhstan-2, 3½ points).
Board 2: 1. GM Edgar Mamedov (Kazakhstan-1, 5 points); 2. FM Aldiyar Zhauynbay (Kazakhstan-2, 4 points); 3. CM Sadullo Azizov (Uzbekistan, 4 points).
Board 3: 1. Pasham Alizade (Azerbaijan, 4½ points); 2. CM Ruslan Momunaliev (Kyrgyzstan, 4 points); 3. FM Javokhir Bozorov (Uzbekistan, 4 points).
Board 4: 1. WFM Mariya Kholyavko (Kazakhstan-1, 5 points); 2. WFM Nilufarkhon Imomkuzieva (Uzbekistan, 4½ points); 3. Dilber Hupbyyeva (Turkmenistan, 3½ points).
The inaugural Turkic Nations Team Chess Championship highlighted the exceptional competitive standard of all six participating delegations. Competitors from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan showcased a fierce and uncompromising spirit across all categories; the majority of the final outcomes were decided only in the closing moments of the tournament. The championship has successfully established a new tradition of regular competitions between the chess federations of the Turkic states.
Photos: lk-studio