From September 19 to 30, Almaty will host the World Cadet Chess Championship. More than 800 young players from 84 countries will gather at the Baluan Sholak Sports and Cultural Complex to compete in the U8, U10, and U12 categories.
For the first time in its history, Kazakhstan will welcome such a major tournament, with over 200 young Kazakhstani players taking part.
Grandmaster Darmen Sadvakasov - First Vice President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess), silver medalist of the 2025 World Team Championship in London, the first U20 World Champion in Kazakhstan’s history, and five-time national champion - shared his views with the Editor-in-Chief of DKNews.kz on the importance of this event, the prospects of young talents, and the future of chess in Kazakhstan.
KazChess
Why is the Cadet World Championship important for Kazakhstan?
Speaking about the tournament in Almaty, we expect new names to emerge here, and we are confident that our national team will perform with dignity and win top prizes. As for the image of Almaty and Kazakhstan as a whole, we will certainly use this opportunity to showcase our beauty to guests from more than 80 countries. We will organize excursions, show the magnificent Kazakh mountains and Almaty itself. I am certain that participants will share their impressions on social media, and this will be a significant contribution to Kazakhstan’s image. With more than 1,200 guests attending, this is a truly large-scale event. We expect it to strengthen Kazakhstan’s reputation as a friendly country that creates every condition for children’s development and offers tremendous tourism potential.
KazChess
How will the World Championship in Almaty affect young players and the popularity of chess in Kazakhstan?
For our young players - more than 200 of them - this is a unique chance to prove themselves in a tournament of the highest level and fight for world championship medals. Hosting such events gives a strong impulse nationwide: more children will join chess clubs, and parents will become our allies, as they want their children to engage in intellectual sports that develop logic and other abilities. Chess is an effective tool for this.
KazChess
Today we see a surge of interest in chess among both children and parents. Thanks to the support of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and his directive to develop a comprehensive chess development plan, approved by the government, even the most ambitious projects are becoming possible.
What is the current state of professional chess in Kazakhstan?
Today our main task is to develop professional chess. Our youth and junior teams are already recognized among the strongest in the world.
KazChess
We consistently win numerous medals in both individual and team competitions.
KazChess
Recent successes include achievements at the World Youth Olympiad in Colombia and the World School Team Championship in the United States. At the previous Cadet World Championship in Italy, the Kazakh team took first place overall in the U8, U10, and U12 categories.
KazChess
We continue to rely on our best talents and strengthen our positions.
What support programs exist for young chess players in Kazakhstan?
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation implements a program to support young talents.
World Chess Champion of the 20th Century and Champion of the 21st Century Darmen Sadvkasov and Kazybek Nogerbek / Photo: Archive of the KazChess Press Service
We provide 45 grants to top boys and girls, enabling them to compete, train with coaches, receive laptops, athletic training, work with psychologists, and join training camps with the national adult team.
KazChess
Thanks to the support of the Federation’s President, Timur Turlov, these programs are becoming increasingly effective.
What are the goals of the Federation in professional chess?
Our goal is to build a truly competitive men’s national team. We focus on super talents and hope to discover the very best of them at this World Championship. The talent support program, the organization of professional tournaments - both open and round-robin - and the entire set of initiatives make it possible to prepare a team of international level.
KazChess
At the heart of this lies the selection and nurturing of young talents. The World Championship in Almaty is a key milestone in achieving this.
What achievements has the women’s national chess team accomplished?
In women’s chess, we have seen a whole generation of players grow out of children’s chess.
KazChess
Names like Bibisara Assaubayeva, Meruert Kamalidenova, Yelnaz Kaliakhmet, Zarina Nurgaliyeva, Alua Nurman, Kseniya Balabaeva, Amina Kairbekova, and many others are already making Kazakhstan proud.
Our women’s team took second place at the World Chess Olympiad in Budapest last year, a strong indicator of its high level and long-term prospects.
What are the prospects for men’s chess in Kazakhstan?
The main achievements in men’s chess still lie ahead. We are focusing on our new leaders - Kazybek Nogerbek, Denis Makhnev, Aldiyar Ansat, and Edgar Mamedov. Special attention is being paid to rejuvenating the lineup and searching for our own “Magnus Carlsen.”
KazChess
Hosting the World Championship in Almaty gives hundreds of Kazakhstani players a chance to show themselves. Had the tournament been held elsewhere, the number of our participants would have been far smaller. The growing popularity of chess in Kazakhstan, together with the President’s support, helps us discover new talents and consolidate our positions.
How does the Federation work to popularize chess?
The key mission of our Federation is to help form an intellectual nation. We not only develop professional chess but also actively promote it among all age groups and professions. We organize tournaments for civil servants, journalists, military personnel, veterans, schoolchildren, students, and many other groups. Inclusiveness is one of our top priorities.
KazChess
How is chess integrated into Kazakhstan’s education system?
Special attention is being paid to integrating chess into education. In recent years, we have achieved significant progress. Initially, only 42 schools took part in the pilot project. Last academic year, chess was already taught in 600 schools across Kazakhstan. Starting this school year, around 1,500 schools will introduce chess lessons in grades 1 and 2, covering about 60–70 thousand children.
photo by Evgeniy Kim/KazChess
This is a major challenge. All summer, we trained staff for the project. Beginning in September, five pedagogical universities launched a program to prepare chess teachers. More than 200 second- and third-year students will graduate with dual qualifications - primary school teacher and chess teacher.
KazChess
I would like to express gratitude to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for their support in making this program a reality.
What would you wish for the participants and organizers of the World Championship in Almaty?
I wish the organizers success in holding the tournament at the highest level, and I thank the Almaty Akimat for its partnership and support. Thanks to them, issues of security, medical care, transportation, and other aspects will be handled professionally.
KazChess
I would also like to thank our partners and sponsors for making this chess festival possible. On behalf of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and its President, Timur Turlov, I wish all young players courage, success, and victories at this World Championship!
