The 2026 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship has officially begun in the Italian city of Montesilvano, bringing together some of the strongest young players from around the world, DKNews.kz reports.
The tournament, held from June 15 to 26 at the Pala Dean Martin Congress Center, features competitions in the U14, U16, and U18 age categories for both boys and girls.
This year’s championship has attracted 758 young chess players from 85 countries and territories, making it one of the largest youth chess events on the international calendar.
Among the participants are:
- 2 grandmasters
- 22 international masters
- 1 woman grandmaster
- 14 woman international masters
Players will compete in 11 rounds under the Swiss system with a classical time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one.
Kazakhstan Fields One of the Strongest Teams
Kazakhstan is represented in all age categories and has brought one of the tournament’s largest delegations.
The team includes established youth stars as well as rising talents aiming for a breakthrough on the international stage.
Particularly impressive is Kazakhstan’s position in the Open U14 category, where the top three players in the starting rankings are all from Kazakhstan:
- Mark Smirnov
- Alisher Abdsattar
- Danis Kuandykuly
Kazakhstan also enters the championship with several top seeds in other divisions.
Yelnaz Kaliakhmet leads the Girls U16 starting list, while Maria Kholyavko is ranked sixth. In the Girls U18 section, Zarina Nurgaliyeva enters the tournament as the number one seed.
Edgar Mamedov Among Tournament Favorites
One of the most notable names in the Kazakh team is Edgar Mamedov, who competes in the Open U18 category.
Mamedov is one of only two grandmasters participating in the championship and remains the youngest grandmaster in Kazakhstan’s history. He is also a former World U16 Champion.
Speaking ahead of the competition, he emphasized the importance of constant improvement and preparation.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Kazakhstan Chess Federation for giving me this opportunity. Chess is a very challenging game in itself. You have to train and work constantly to improve and become stronger. All of my opponents are very strong, so I will prepare for each of them as thoroughly as possible and hope to perform well. I am competing in an older age category. I want to gain valuable experience, play beautiful games and, hopefully, win a medal,” said Edgar Mamedov.
High Expectations for Kazakhstan’s Champions
For 15-year-old Ayaru Altynbek, the World Championship is one of the most important events of the season.
The Woman FIDE Master is a five-time champion of Kazakhstan and a three-time world champion in youth categories.
She said she feels well prepared for the challenge ahead.
“This is a very important tournament for every chess player because it is the premier World Championship in classical chess. It is important to perform well here. I have prepared extensively and believe I have a good chance of achieving a strong result,” said Aiaru Altynbek, a Woman FIDE Master, five-time champion of Kazakhstan and three-time world champion.
Parents of the young players also highlighted the support provided by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.
“The Kazakhstan Chess Federation sent us to this tournament. We are grateful to Timur Turlov for supporting talented young players and giving them the opportunity to compete at events of this level,” said Indira Baitemirova, the mother of chess player Aiaru Altynbek.
Organizers Praise Kazakhstan’s Presence
The scale of Kazakhstan’s participation has attracted attention from tournament organizers.
International arbiter Marco Biagioli noted that this year’s championship is the largest youth event he has worked on.
“We have very strong numbers and a record number of participants — more than 750 players. We also have an impressive number of delegations, with over 80 countries represented. So all the conditions are in place for an excellent championship. I have already worked at the World Youth Championships four times — in 2018, 2023 and 2024 — and this tournament is undoubtedly the largest I have ever seen in terms of participation,” said Marco Biagioli.
He also pointed out that Kazakhstan regularly brings one of the largest delegations to international youth championships.
“Sometimes the Kazakh delegation was even larger than the Italian one. This year, Kazakhstan is among the three largest delegations, alongside the United States and Italy, the host nation of the tournament. I think this demonstrates how important chess is in Kazakhstan and how effectively the national chess federation is developing youth chess. I also expect Kazakhstan to win a significant number of medals,” the international arbiter noted.
Strong Results in the Opening Round
Kazakhstan’s players made a confident start to the championship.
Most of the team’s leading contenders won their opening games, signaling strong medal ambitions for the tournament.
The only draws among Kazakhstan’s top-ranked players came from:
- Ayaru Altynbek
- Danis Kuandykuly
- Sauat Nurgaliyev
With ten rounds still to be played, Kazakhstan’s young chess talents remain firmly among the leading contenders across several age categories.
Why This Matters
Kazakhstan has become one of the world’s leading nations in youth chess, consistently producing players capable of competing for international titles.
The strong representation in Montesilvano, combined with several top seeds and a grandmaster among the participants, reflects the continued growth of the country’s chess program and investment in young talent.
A successful performance at the World Youth Championship would further strengthen Kazakhstan’s reputation as one of the rising powers in international chess.
