The 3rd International Conference “Chess in Education” has started at Satbayev University in Almaty. The event is organized by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) with the support of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The general partner is Freedom Holding Corp, DKNews.kz reports.
Over two days, leading experts from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Armenia, the EU countries, the United States, and more than 350 representatives of Kazakhstan’s education sector will discuss the development of educational chess.
The conference program presented international experiences and practices of integrating chess into education. Fethi Apaydın, President of the Turkish Chess Federation, delivered a report on Turkey’s experience. Representatives of the International School Chess Federation, Nadezhda Kravchuk and Dilda Nauryzbayeva, spoke about international approaches to developing school chess. Akynkali Darmenov, Major General of Police and Head of the Kostanay Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan named after Shrakbek Kabylbayev, shared insights on developing cadets’ intellectual abilities.
A panel discussion on integrating chess into higher education was held by Miras Daulenov, President of Coventry University Kazakhstan, Vahan Sargsyan (Armenian State Pedagogical University), Marc Beig (University of Girona, Spain), and other experts. The session “Royal Move: Women in Chess” featured KazChess Executive Director Gulmira Dauletova. The first day concluded with speeches by Leontxo García (Spain), Senior Advisor to the FIDE “Chess in Education” Commission, and Rita Atkins (Hungary), Secretary of the Commission.
On the second day, master classes were held: Jerry Nash (USA), Chairman of the Commission, presented “Chess and Critical Thinking”; Leontxo García discussed interdisciplinary practices; Marc Beig focused on developing executive functions; while Rita Atkins and Kuanysh Suleimen shared their experiences in chess problem-solving and digital platforms.
“We are witnessing very dynamic growth in chess education. Integrating chess into the educational system not only helps form an intellectual nation but also builds a strong foundation for raising individuals who can think strategically. We are proud that Kazakhstan is exporting its unique experience with the ‘Chess in Education’ program, sharing knowledge and inspiring other countries on the path to creating an intellectually developed society,” said KazChess First Vice President Darmen Sadvakassov. His words emphasized Kazakhstan’s contribution to the global development of educational chess.
The “Chess in Education” program in Kazakhstan has achieved significant results. In 2025, the subject “Fundamentals of Chess” was introduced in more than 1,500 schools across 20 regions, surpassing the KPI of 1,400 schools by 2027. More than 60,000 students are participating in the program. A total of 2,500 teachers from 20 regions have completed training in chess teaching methodology.
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has been granted the status of an organization for teachers’ professional development, allowing teachers to receive certificates recognized during official attestation.
Specialist training is also underway: seven pedagogical universities are launching a minor in “Chess Teacher”, with 204 students from five universities already beginning studies in the 2025–2026 academic year. Online courses for 1st- and 2nd-grade teachers in both Kazakh and Russian have also been developed.
The “Chess in Education” program is shaping a new learning culture where chess helps children become smarter, more confident, and more successful. With each year, interest in this field continues to grow, confirming the effectiveness of chess as an educational tool.
