On June 25, 2025, the city of Turkistan hosted the first of five semifinals of the Senat Open II, Kazakhstan’s largest chess tournament for amateur players. The competition brought together 129 of the strongest players from the southern regions — Shymkent, as well as the Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and Turkistan regions. Following intense and competitive battles, 38 participants earned their places in the national final, DKnews.kz reports.
Experience Leads the Way: Yuri Egai Tops the Leaderboard
The highlight of the tournament was the remarkable performance of 68-year-old Yuri Egai from the Kyzylorda region. He scored 8 out of 9 points, demonstrating exceptional consistency and calm under pressure. In the final round, he drew against fellow veteran, 75-year-old Barat Zhetpisbayev, which was enough to secure his first-place finish.
The runner-up was Serik Kydyrbaev from the Turkistan region, who also scored 7.5 points. Although Zhetpisbayev had the same number of points, Kydyrbaev edged him out on the Buchholz tiebreak system. With two players from Kyzylorda in the top three, the region's strong chess tradition was on full display.
A Fierce Battle — Round by Round
The tournament began with a formal opening ceremony. Chairmen of the regional maslikhats — Nuraly Abishov (Turkistan) and Murat Tleumbetov (Kyzylorda) — were honored with KazChess 2nd-degree medals for their contributions to the development of chess in Kazakhstan.
From the very first rounds, the competition was intense. After four rounds, six players had perfect scores. By round five, only two remained undefeated — Serik Kydyrbaev and Asylbek Tuyetayev from Shymkent. In round six, they were joined by Eduard Pak and Yuri Egai from Kyzylorda. Round seven ended with Egai and Kydyrbaev sharing the lead with 6.5 points, just ahead of Tlektes Taigara, Barat Zhetpisbayev, and Sapar Tazhidinov, all with 6 points.
In the final round, Egai secured a draw against Zhetpisbayev to keep his lead. Kydyrbaev defeated Zhanibek Kogabayev from the Zhambyl region, while Taigara and Tuyetayev drew their game — leaving Egai at the top.
Special Awards in Six Categories
In addition to the overall standings, the tournament recognized the best players in six special categories:
- Best Veteran: Yuri Egai (Kyzylorda region) – 1st place
- Best Female Player: Gulzaya Kurmanbayeva (Kyzylorda region) – 81st place
- Best Parliament Representative: Junisbek Serikov (Zhambyl region) – 29th place
- Best Government Official: Sapar Tazhidinov (Shymkent) – 6th place
- Best Civil Society Representative: Serik Kydyrbaev (Turkistan region) – 5th place
- Best Media Representative: Asylbek Tuyetayev (Shymkent) – 4th place
38 Finalists from the Southern Zone
The following 38 players secured their tickets to the final:
- Turkistan region – 13 players
- Shymkent – 10 players
- Zhambyl region – 8 players
- Kyzylorda region – 7 players
Each of them proved their skills and will now compete for the championship title.
Senat Open: A Tournament with a Mission
The Senat Open is more than a chess tournament — it’s a nationwide initiative to promote intellectual development and community spirit through chess. The competition was launched in 2024 by Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and is supported by Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
The inaugural edition attracted over 2,000 amateur players. In 2025, the tournament grew even larger: over 2,100 participated in the qualifying rounds, and with the veterans’ tournaments included, the total number of players surpassed 3,000.
This year’s structure remains the same:
- 20 qualifying tournaments: February 21 – May 27
- 5 semifinals: June 25 – August 9
- Final: August 29 in Astana
Only players with a FIDE rating below 2000 as of January 1, 2025 are eligible to compete. The games follow a 9-round Swiss system, with a time control of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move.
All Roads Lead to Astana
The Turkistan semifinal proved the growing popularity and competitive depth of amateur chess in southern Kazakhstan. Inspirational performances from veterans, balanced by youthful ambition, made this event a true celebration of strategy and intellect. With four semifinals still ahead, the stage is set for a brilliant final in Astana on August 29.
