The Asian Regional Championship (Zone 3.4) serving as FIDE World Cup and Women’s World Cup qualifying competition has concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Bringing together the leading chess players from Central Asian countries, this tournament marked an important milestone for Kazakh and Central Asian chess on the road to global stage.
After nine intense rounds, the winners emerged in both open and women’s sections:
Women’s section:
- Afruza Khamdamova (Uzbekistan)
- Elnaz Kaliahmet (Kazakhstan)
- Meruert Kamalidenova (Kazakhstan)
Complete final standings – Women
Open section:
- Aldiyar Ansat (Kazakhstan)
- Satbek Akhmedinov (Kazakhstan)
- Alisher Suleimenov (Kazakhstan)
- Mukhammazokhid Suyarov (Uzbekistan)
Complete final standings – Open
Women’s tournament
By the start of the final round, much had already been decided in the women’s tournament. At the top board, the leaders, 16-year-old Afruza Khamdamova (pictured above) and 14-year-old Elnaz Kaliahmet (pictured below) quickly agreed to a draw, punching their tickets to the Women’s World Cup.
The battle for the last remaining spot was a tense showdown between Meruert Kamalidenova (pictured below) and Alua Nurman. Their game on the second board saw constant shifts in momentum, making it a nerve-wracking contest. Ultimately, Kamalidenova prevailed, clinching third place.
Another standout player was 14-year-old Jahan Rejepova from Turkmenistan, who played an excellent tournament, including a convincing win over Lia Kurmangaliyeva. However, despite her strong performance, she fell short of reaching the podium.
Open tournament
The open tournament was a much closer contest. Going into the final round, at least seven participants had a chance to qualify for the World Cup.
One of the biggest surprises was the performance by the 19-year-old Satbek Akhmedinov of Kazakhstan (pictured above). The 27-seed, 19-year-old scored a spectacular victory over Mukkhiddin Madaminov in just 23 moves, securing second place in the final standings, one of four coveted spots.
Other Kazakhstan’s players also rose to the occasion in the final round. 16-year-old Aldiyar Ansat (pictured above) outmaneuvered Saidakbar Saidaliyev, while 24-year-old Alisher Suleimenov (pictured below) delivered a hard-fought win over Abdimalik Abdisalimov. Ansat finished in clear first place with 7.5/11, while Abdisalimov claimed third place.
The last (fourth) qualifying spot in the open’s section went to Uzbekistan’s IM Mukhammazokhid Suyarov (pictured below), who secured a crucial victory over newly crowned GM Saparmurat Atabayev. Notably, Atabayev only needed a draw to qualify but failed to stop his determined opponent.
President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, Timur Turlov, reflected on the tournament:
“This tournament reaffirmed the most important truth: Central Asia is proving itself as a growing force on the world chess stage. Our region is reaching new levels of skill and ambition, and we are doing it in our own unique style. Watching the incredible performances of our players fills our hearts with pride and fuels our belief that many future victories lie ahead.
Yes, at the chessboard, we are competitors, but beyond it, we remain one family. In Central Asia, every success is a shared success, and support is more than just words—it is a genuine act of goodwill. Kazakhstan is honored to have hosted this tournament. However, this was not just an opportunity to showcase our hospitality and organizational strength but also a step toward strengthening our bonds with our brotherly nations. We are growing together, developing together, and inspiring one another to reach new heights. May it always be so.”
Photo: Yevgeniy Kim