On November 12–13, Almaty will host the 4th International Scientific and Practical Conference “Chess in Education” at Narxoz University. The event is a part of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Chess in the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2023–2027, approved by the Government on the instructions of the President of Kazakhstan. The main goal of the conference is to expand the school chess movement, improve teacher training in chess education methodology, and systematically integrate chess into the country’s education system.
The conference will be attended by Timur Turlov, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, as well as leading international experts. Speakers include Anzel Laubscher, a member of the FIDE Chess in Education Commission and a senior chess-in-education instructor in South Africa; Dr. Jonathon Quest, visiting associate professor at Webster University; Ali Abbas, President of the Syrian Chess Federation and a FIDE lecturer in chess education; and Ramon Chalmeta Ugas, President of the Catalan Chess Federation and an expert in chess education.
The participants will focus on examining the role of chess as an effective tool for developing students’ cognitive skills, critical thinking, and mathematical abilities, as well as practical issues regarding the training of thousands of educators and the integration of chess programs into school curricula. Special emphasis will be placed on popularizing chess among women and introducing modern digital technologies into the educational process.
The two-day conference program will feature panel discussions, presentations of modern educational programs, and hands-on workshops led by leading specialists. Representatives of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Education, international experts, education methodologists, and members of the teaching community will discuss the interim results of introducing chess into Kazakhstani schools and identify directions for further development.
The upcoming event will mark an important step toward strengthening interdepartmental and international cooperation in children’s and youth education, as well as promoting mind sports in Kazakhstan.
- Date: November 12–13, 2026
- Opening time: 10:00 AM
- Venue: Narxoz University, 55 Zhandosov Street, Almaty
- Media accreditation contact: +7 777 998 8820 (Alla, Kazakhstan Chess Federation Press Office)
- Registration: https://conf.kazchess.kz/