KazNU has launched the world's first FIDE team chess championship among universities

The opening ceremony of the final stage of the first ever FIDE team championship among higher education institutions took place at the al-Farabi Kazakh National University.

16 university teams are taking part in the tournament, which will be held from August 4-9. Among them are universities with centuries-old academic history and long-standing chess traditions such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard. Kazakhstan is represented at the championship by students of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakh National University of Sports and Almaty Management University.

The opening ceremony was attended by Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov, Secretary General of the International Chess Federation FIDE Lukash Turley, Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Deputy Akim of Almaty Nurlan Abdrahim, chess players, media representatives and bloggers.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva addressed the participants of the event with a video message, noting the importance of the championship.

"Today, Kazakhstan is becoming a meeting place for the strongest young chess players representing the world's leading educational institutions. This championship is not only a competition for medals, but also a platform for communication, knowledge exchange, strengthening ties between universities and forming a long–term partnership between countries",- said Aida Balayeva.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, stressed that chess is an important educational tool. According to him, Kazakhstan has already achieved concrete results in the training of teaching staff. More than 200 students of five pedagogical universities have completed the Minor program "Chess Teacher", and 31 higher educational institutions are implementing educational programs that include disciplines in chess education.

"Chess is not only an intellectual game, but also an effective educational tool that develops critical thinking, independence, responsibility and the ability to strategically plan. That is why it is fundamentally important for us to train teachers who are able to professionally integrate chess education into the educational process. This is a contribution not only to improving the quality of teacher education, but also to the development of human capital and intellectual potential of our country",- the minister said.

In turn, Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University Zhanseit Tuimebayev noted that holding the world Championship at the university is a great honor and at the same time a high responsibility.

"Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said: "Chess in our country is not just a sport, but an important component of intellectual culture, upbringing and education". These words deeply reveal the meaning and importance of today's championship. Today, the leading universities of the USA, Great Britain, China, Greece, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, Australia and the Republic of South Africa gathered at KazNU on one site",- Zhanseit Tuimebayev emphasized.

Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, noted that the holding of the tournament in Almaty confirms the positions of Kazakhstan and the national federation in the world chess movement.

"We know from history that chess was born in India, gained strength in Persia and spread around the world through numerous trade routes, one of which took place right here, at the foot of the Almaty mountains. Fifteen hundred years later, the game returned to where it once went further. And the fact that Kazakhstan and Almaty are taking this historic turn today is better than any words evidence of the strength of our country and our federation, which has rightfully become one of the locomotives of world chess. At the same time, the development of student chess is one of our priorities, because it is in the university environment that connections and acquaintances are being formed today that go far beyond the chessboard and continue in science, education and joint projects around the world",- said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.

It should be noted that as part of the final stage of the championship, a tournament was also held between the youth national teams of Kazakhstan and other countries of the world.

The event is organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, the Akimat of Almaty, the al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as Freedom and Lichess.org .

Press-service of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University