Kazakhstan is second in the world again. The women’s national team claimed silver at the Chess Olympiad for the second consecutive time, matching its historic 2024 result, DKNews.kz reports.
In the 11th and final round of the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Kazakhstan drew 2–2 with Poland. The result secured the team second place in the women’s event.
Kazakhstan Turns a Breakthrough Into Back-to-Back Success
The standout detail from Samarkand is not simply the medal, but the fact that Kazakhstan has now repeated its best-ever Olympiad result.
In 2024, the women’s team won its first Olympic silver at the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest. Two years later, Kazakhstan has returned to the podium in the same position.
China won the women’s competition in Samarkand.
2–2 Draw With Poland Secures Silver
Kazakhstan entered the 11th and final round with a medal still at stake. Poland was the team’s final opponent.
The match ended 2–2, allowing Kazakhstan to finish the Olympiad in second place.
Kazakhstan’s squad in Samarkand included:
- Bibisara Assaubayeva
- Alua Nurman
- Meruert Kamalidenova
- Yelnaz Kaliakhmet
- Zarina Nurgaliyeva
The team captain was Pavel Kotsur.
From Budapest to Samarkand: Two Silvers in a Row
Before 2024, Kazakhstan’s women had never finished second at a Chess Olympiad. The breakthrough came in Budapest, where the team claimed its first silver medal.
Now the result has been repeated at the very next Olympiad.
That makes the Samarkand medal particularly significant for Kazakh chess: what was a historic first in 2024 has been followed by another second-place finish two years later.
