On July 21, 2025, Ust-Kamenogorsk (Oskemen) officially became the epicenter of the chess world as the international chess festival Oskemen Open 2025 kicked off.
KazChess
The event marks the second stage of the Kazakhstan Chess Cup 2025 and has already gained a reputation as one of the most prominent tournaments in the region. From July 21 to 29, the D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University will host intense matchups featuring grandmasters, rising talents, and passionate enthusiasts from around the world.
- 💰 Total Prize Pool: $100,000
- Masters Tournament: $78,000
- 🥇 1st place: $18,000
- 🥈 2nd place: $14,000
- 🥉 3rd place: $10,000
- 15th place & Best Female Player (outside Top-15): $1,000
- Challengers: $15,000 (Top prize: $4,000)
- Open: $7,000 (Top prize: $2,000)
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Additional prizes are available for women and local players, adding to the excitement.
“Oskemen Open has quickly become a magnet for top chess players and emerging stars, carving out a special place in the sports and intellectual calendar of our region. With strong support from the regional government and our sponsors, this event has grown into one of the most anticipated chess festivals of the year.”
— Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation
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Organized by:
- Kazakhstan Ministry of Tourism and Sports
- Kazakhstan Chess Federation
- Akimat of East Kazakhstan Region
General Partners:
- Freedom Holding Corp.
- Grand Mobile (real-life simulation game)
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Official Partners:
- KazZinc
- D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University
Tournament Structure
Organized by KazChess, Oskemen Open 2025 features three rating-based tournaments:
- Masters (Rating 2400+)
- Challengers (1900–2399)
- Open (1400–1899)
Each competition follows a 9-round Swiss system with classical time control: 90 minutes per game + 30 seconds increment per move.
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Global Participation: 20 Countries Represented
Masters Tournament features 79 players, including:
- 21 Grandmasters (GM)
- 35 International Masters (IM)
- 3 Women Grandmasters (WGM)
- 20 players are rated above 2500 (as of July 1, 2025).
Headliners:
- GM Richard Rapport (2715, Hungary) — World Championship contender
- GM Arkadij Naiditsch (2629, Bulgaria) — Veteran and tournament regular
- GM Anton Demchenko (2610, Slovenia) — Known for aggressive tactics
- GM Narayanan Sunilduth Lyna (2597, India) — Rising star
- GM Sergey Azarov (2590, Belarus) — Positional expert
- GM Alexey Grebnev (2582, FID) — 2025 Dubai Open champion
- IM Faustino Oro (2465, Argentina) — The 11-year-old prodigy and record-breaker (youngest ever to reach 2300 and IM title)
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Kazakh Contenders:
- GM Denis Makhnev (2535)
- GM Alisher Suleimenov (2497)
- IM Arystanbek Urazayev (2490)
- IM Aldiyar Ansat (2489)
- IM Zhandos Azmanov (2483)
- Azamat Utegaliev (2462)
- GM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (2456)
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Women Participants:
- IM Munguntuul Batkhuyag (2356, Mongolia)
- WGM Nandhidhaa P. V. (2330, India)
- WIM Afruza Khamdamova (2326, Uzbekistan) — Aktobe Open 2025 star
- WFM Zarina Nurgaliyeva (2336, Kazakhstan)
- WGM Kseniya Balabaeva (2332)
- WGM Alua Nurman (2306)
- WFM Yelnaz Kaliahmet (2306)
- WIM Amina Kairbekova (2273)
Challengers and Open
Challengers: 93 players. Top contenders include:
- IM Aaditya Dhingra (2398, India)
- IM Eldiyar Orozbaev (2367, Kyrgyzstan)
- Strong Mongolian trio: FM Naranbold Sodbilegt, WCM Bat-Erdene Mungunzul, WGM Turmunkh Munkhzul
- Open: 99 players. A diverse and competitive field where everyone has a shot at glory.
KazChess
Oskemen Open 2025 is not only a celebration of top-level chess but also a platform for connecting cultures, mentoring youth, and promoting mental sports. It welcomes both seasoned professionals and aspiring talents, creating unforgettable stories with every move on the board.
Thanks to the strong backing of its partners, the tournament has earned global recognition, attracting players from 20 countries and thousands of fans. The energy, precision, and drama of the festival make it a can’t-miss event.
The first stage of the Kazakhstan Chess Cup — Aktobe Open 2025 — was won by Serbian GM Alexey Sarana (rating 2686). The chess world now eagerly awaits to see who will rise to the top in Ust-Kamenogorsk.
