Tokayev receives new FIDE President Timur Turlov

Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received Timur Turlov and congratulated him on his election as head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). According to the president, Kazakhstan must intensify training for its chess players.

He also said Turlov’s election as FIDE president shows Kazakhstan’s growing prestige and the strength of its national chess school on the global stage.

As Tokayev noted, chess holds special significance for the country, as it is not merely a sport but also a vital tool for developing young people’s intellectual potential.

«Over the past several years, the Kazakhstani chess school has demonstrated steady progress. As of today, more than 278,000 people regularly engage in this sport across the country,» Akorda.kz reported.

The president also highlighted the achievements of Kazakhstan’s women’s national team, which won silver medals at the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

At the same time, Tokayev outlined several priority tasks facing the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess). In particular, he pointed to the need to strengthen national team training, establish an effective system to identify and develop young talent, promote chess in the education system, and develop chess infrastructure outside major cities.

The president specifically highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the national federation and FIDE. In particular, this includes professional development for domestic coaches and arbiters, implementing joint educational projects and hosting major international chess tournaments in Kazakhstan.

Tokayev also wished Timur Turlov success in his new role of great responsibility. In turn, Turlov thanked the president for his special attention to chess and his support for the game’s development. He also outlined prospects for further global popularization of the sport, expanded international cooperation and new projects involving national chess federations.

KazChess President and Freedom Holding Corp. CEO Turlov was elected FIDE president on Sept. 26 in Samarkand during the organization’s General Assembly. He secured 110 of 196 possible votes in the second round.

During the election debates, Turlov proposed establishing a special fund and investing over $6 million in chess development and support for smaller federations worldwide.