This past weekend, chess brought together Kazakhstan's media representatives and bloggers for a unique intellectual competition — the annual "Two Capitals Cup 2024" tournament. Organized to commemorate International Information Day (November 26), the tournament was hosted by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), the National Economic Publication Delovoy Kazakhstan/DKnews.kz, and the Telegram channel Chessno Govorya. The event was supported by Freedom Broker as the general partner and Tarlan Payments as the official partner.
@KazChess
The tournament was held simultaneously in two of the country's largest cities, Astana and Almaty, showcasing the growing enthusiasm of journalists and bloggers for chess as a unifying and inspiring sport.
Inauguration and Organization
The tournament, held on November 30, 2024, took place at the Qazmedia Center in Astana and Almaty Management University in Almaty. The event commenced with warm greetings from the organizers and a ceremonial first move on the chessboard.
@KazChess
In Astana, the opening move was made by KazChess First Vice President Darmen Sadvakasov and Kazakhstan’s national chess coach Dastan Kapayev. In Almaty, this honor was given to KazChess Executive Director Gulmira Dauletova and AlmaU Rector Gulnara Kurenkeeva.
@KazChess
“Media Cup has become an important event for Kazakhstan's media, uniting journalists and bloggers who not only enjoy chess but actively promote the sport in the information space. The tournament strengthens the country's chess community and stimulates interest in chess among a wide audience. We are pleased to see the format improving yearly and the number of participants growing” Darmen Sadvakasov
Tournament Format: An Intellectual Contest
Participants competed in rapid chess with a time control of 10+2 (10 minutes per game plus a 2-second increment for each move). The tournament followed the Swiss system over seven rounds. Media representatives with a FIDE rating not exceeding 2000 as of October 1, 2024, were eligible to participate.
@KazChess
These criteria ensured the tournament was accessible to a wide audience while maintaining a high level of competition.
Tournament Highlights in Almaty
The tournament in Kazakhstan's southern capital gathered 26 participants. The competition here was particularly thrilling. The winner was young blogger Asylkhan Kumar (rating 1795), who displayed confident play and scored 6½ points. Alan Tasmukhanov (1626) took second place, trailing the leader by just half a point. The battle for third place was intense: three players scored 5 points, but the tiebreak system awarded the bronze to Marat Mulkubaev (1948), ahead of Grigory Fedorov (1904) and Timur Kasymov (1975).
@KazChess
Intense Competition in Astana
The capital’s tournament saw 40 participants, a record number for the "Two Capitals Cup." The absolute champion was Nurlan Salykbayev, who won all seven games, demonstrating outstanding mastery. Second place went to Akhmet Ishmukhamedov (1969), who scored 6 points, while Zhanybolat Tureshov (1879) finished third with 5½ points.
The Final Battle for the "Two Capitals Cup"
After the city tournaments, the winners and runners-up faced off on the online platform Lichess.org to determine the overall champions.
@KazChess
In the rapid match finals, Asylkhan Kumar and Nurlan Salykbayev traded victories in two games, ending in a draw. The decisive blitz game (time control 3+1) crowned the young blogger from Almaty as the winner. Asylkhan Kumar claimed the championship title and won a travel grant to Singapore, where he will attend the World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju.
Winners and Prizes
Nurlan Salykbayev, the champion of the Astana tournament, took second place overall and received a cash prize of 300,000 tenge. Akhmet Ishmukhamedov secured third place and earned 200,000 tenge.
@KazChess
Alan Tasmukhanov, who finished fourth, received a special consolation prize of 150,000 tenge from the tournament sponsors.
In addition to the main prizes, each city awarded additional prizes of 60,000 tenge to the best blogger, the best female player, and the best veteran. This highlighted the organizers’ commitment to promoting chess across all demographics.
Conclusion: Chess as a Unifying Force
The "Two Capitals Cup 2024" was not just a tournament but a significant event for Kazakhstan's chess and media communities. This intellectual sport not only unites people but also fosters creative thinking and strategic skills.
@KazChess
The organizers are confident that interest in chess will continue to grow and that such events will further strengthen the sport's reputation in Kazakhstan. With the support of partners like Freedom Broker and Tarlan Payments, the tournament was marked by exceptional organization and a vibrant atmosphere.
Chess continues to inspire people and pave the way for new achievements, and the "Two Capitals Cup" has once again proven the importance and relevance of this sport in today’s society.
