Kazakhstan's young chess players won 20 medals at the Asian Schools Chess Championship. The national team claimed three gold, ten silver and seven bronze medals at the 20th edition of the tournament, held in Russia's Tula Region from October 2 to 10, 2026. The competition brought together 314 players from 12 countries, including 22 representing Kazakhstan, DKNews.kz reports.
Nine Kazakhstani players finished on the podium, with three winning medals in all three disciplines: classical chess, rapid and blitz.
How Kazakhstan Secured 20 Medals
The championship featured six age categories, with separate competitions for boys and girls. Players competed in classical chess, rapid and blitz, testing their skills under different time controls.
Kazakhstan's final medal tally was:
- 3 gold medals;
- 10 silver medals;
- 7 bronze medals.
The medals came across several age groups, highlighting the depth of Kazakhstan's emerging chess talent.
Aldiyar Zhauynbay Clinches Asian Title With a Round to Spare
One of Kazakhstan's standout performers was 14-year-old Aldiyar Zhauynbay from Astana.
Competing in the under-15 category, he secured the Asian classical chess title with one round remaining.
Zhauynbay finished the nine-round competition with 7.5 points out of a possible nine, an impressive result against some of the continent's strongest young players.
His success extended beyond classical chess. He also won silver in rapid and bronze in blitz.
That gave him a complete set of gold, silver and bronze medals at a single continental championship.
Alikhan Sagyntayev Takes Gold in Blitz
Another Astana player, Alikhan Sagyntayev, also returned home with three medals.
Competing in the under-11 division, Sagyntayev became the Asian blitz champion.
He followed that achievement with silver medals in classical chess and rapid, finishing on the podium in every discipline he entered.
Performing consistently across different time controls is particularly demanding. Classical chess rewards deep calculation and long-term planning, while blitz requires quick decisions under intense time pressure.
Sagyntayev demonstrated his ability to handle both formats successfully.
Amaliya Yedresheva Delivers Kazakhstan's Third Gold
Kazakhstan's third gold medal came from Amaliya Yedresheva.
She won the Asian classical chess title in the girls' under-9 category, adding another championship victory to the national team's tally.
Yedresheva also secured bronze in rapid, finishing the tournament with two medals.
Kazakhstan's three Asian champions were therefore Aldiyar Zhauynbay, Alikhan Sagyntayev and Amaliya Yedresheva.
Youngest Kazakhstani Medalist Wins Three Awards
Alinur Bauyrzhan, competing in the under-7 category, delivered another remarkable performance.
The youngest Kazakhstani medalist at the championship collected three medals across the three disciplines.
He won silver in blitz and bronze medals in both classical chess and rapid.
Reaching the podium three times at such a young age marks an encouraging start to his international chess career.
Alimzhan Zhauynbay and Adil Azatzhan Add to the Medal Count
Two more Kazakhstani players made multiple podium appearances.
Alimzhan Zhauynbay earned silver in classical chess and bronze in rapid in the under-13 category.
Adil Azatzhan, competing in the under-15 division, took bronze in classical chess and silver in blitz.
Their performances added four medals to Kazakhstan's overall tally and further demonstrated the team's strength across different age groups.
Kazakhstan's Girls Claim Four Silvers and a Bronze
Kazakhstan's female players also delivered strong performances, with Ayaru Altynbek, Aknur Mamakova and Akniet Kumisbay earning five medals between them.
Altynbek won silver in both rapid and blitz in the girls' under-17 category.
Mamakova matched that achievement in the under-15 division, also finishing second in rapid and blitz.
Kumisbay added a bronze medal in blitz in the girls' under-13 category.
Their individual results were:
- Ayaru Altynbek — two silver medals in rapid and blitz;
- Aknur Mamakova — two silver medals in rapid and blitz;
- Akniet Kumisbay — one bronze medal in blitz.
Together, the three players contributed five medals to Kazakhstan's total.
How Does the Result Compare With Last Year?
Kazakhstan's young chess players also enjoyed considerable success at the 2025 Asian Schools Chess Championship.
At that tournament, held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the national team won 22 medals, including ten golds.
This year's total of 20 medals was two fewer than in 2025, while the number of gold medals fell from ten to three.
However, the two championships differed in size. The 2025 tournament attracted 675 players from 16 countries, compared with 314 participants from 12 nations in 2026.
These differences matter when comparing results. Medal totals alone do not capture the full picture of a team's development, particularly when the competitive field changes from year to year.
What the 20 Medals Mean for Chess in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's performance in the Tula Region offers another indication of the country's growing pool of young chess talent.
Medalists emerged from several age categories, ranging from children under seven to players competing in the under-17 division.
Particularly encouraging was the ability of several players to succeed in all three disciplines.
Classical chess demands patience, strategic understanding and sustained concentration. Rapid and blitz place greater emphasis on speed, adaptability and decision-making under pressure.
Winning medals across these formats suggests that Kazakhstan's young players are developing a broad range of competitive skills.
International tournaments also provide valuable experience, allowing emerging players to test themselves against opponents from different countries and prepare for future competitions.
We previously reported on Kazakhstan's 22-medal performance at the Asian Schools Chess Championship in Ulaanbaatar, where the team collected ten gold medals. This year's 20-medal haul in Russia continues the country's record of strong performances at continental youth chess competitions.
