IM Aldiyar Ansat and WIM Xeniya Balabayeva are the new champions of Kazakhstan. Both won their first national titles. The 2023 Kazakhstani Championship took place in Astana from December 13-24.

The open event, a 14-player round-robin, turned into an extremely tight competition. Suffice it to say that as many as five participants scored 8/13 and tied for first place, with neither player completing the event unbeaten.

According to the Championship Regulations, GMs  Denis Makhnev, Alisher Suleymenov, IMs Arystanbek Urazayev, Aldiyar Ansat, and FM Abilmansur Abdilkhair played a rapid tie-breaker to determine the winner and medalists.

On paper, the two GMs, Makhnev and Suleimenov, had a better shot at the title, but the young IM Aldiyar Ansat defied all the odds. After winning his first two games, he held his ground against GMs and secured the national title. Arystanbek Urazaev (Aktobe) and Denis Makhnev (Pavlodar) took silver and bronze respectively.

Final standings open (after 13 rounds):

WIM Xeniya Balabayeva (pictured below) dominated the women’s event, a 10-player round-robin, winning direct encounters with her main rivals and scoring an impressive 7.5/9. Coming into the final round, Xseniya needed just a draw to win gold, and she confidently accomplished the task, clinching the title.

The top-seed Alua Nurmanova finished a full point behind the champion and earned silver. As many as three participants tied for third place on 5/9, with Madina Davletbayeva claiming bronze thanks to a superior Sonneborn-Berger.

Final standings women:

Official website: kazchess.kz/

Photos: Kazakhstan Chess Facebook Page