The final of the national chess tournament «Senat Open,» which brought together more than 3,000 participants, kicked off in Astana. The opening ceremony featured a musical program and speeches by Senate Speaker Maulen Ashimbayev and Timur Turlov, president of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess).
Turlov emphasized that the tournament has become a platform for honing skills and strengthening friendships.
«This tournament holds special significance for me. It has its own style, spirit and most importantly, a clear social mission. It has become a place where professional connections and personal friendships grow stronger. This tournament has also become a platform that reflects values dear to our people — perseverance, fair play, striving for leadership and respect for elders,» he said.
Ashimbayev noted that Kazakhstan has been actively promoting chess and creating a favorable environment for both amateur and professional players. This is the second year in a row that the «Senat Open» has been held.
«We believe such projects play an important role in developing citizens’ intellectual potential and in shaping essential skills, including those needed in the field of public administration,» the official stated.
The tournament unfolded in several stages: from Feb. 21 to May 27, 20 qualifying rounds were held across all regions of Kazakhstan. The semi-final rounds followed in Turkestan (South) on June 25, Semey (Center) on June 29, Kokshetau (North) on July 4, Uralsk (West) on July 23 and Taldykorgan (East) on Aug. 9.
The final stage brought together 215 of the strongest chess players. The winners will receive diplomas and trophies.
Turlov added that Kazakhstan is among the world’s leading chess nations, hosting over 200 tournaments annually. He stressed that active support for talented youth is bearing fruit: the women’s team won silver at the Chess Olympiad, while Kazakh players overall have claimed more than 30 gold medals at international tournaments, along with a large number of silver and bronze medals.
