Kazakh President Tokayev Welcomes New FIDE President Turlov to Discuss Chess Development

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently received newly elected FIDE President Timur Turlov in Kazakhstan to congratulate him on his election and discuss the future of chess cooperation between the international federation and the Central Asian nation.

Chess as a National Priority

During the meeting, President Tokayev emphasized that chess holds a special place in Kazakhstan, functioning not only as a competitive sport but also as a vital instrument for developing the intellectual potential of the younger generation. He highlighted the rapid growth of the game in recent years, noting that more than 278,000 people across the country are now actively engaged in chess.

The president pointed to the strong results of Kazakhstan’s national teams, including the silver medal secured by the women’s team at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, as evidence of the Kazakh chess school’s progress.

Strengthening Federation Cooperation

President Tokayev stressed the importance of deepening collaboration between the Kazakhstan Chess Federation and FIDE. Key areas identified for joint work include advancing educational initiatives, providing professional development for coaches and arbiters, and hosting major international chess events in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s Development Model

Timur Turlov, who also serves as President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, observed that the country’s experience over the past three years demonstrates how a systematic approach combining government support, coordinated investment, educational integration, and federation development can produce measurable results. He outlined several pillars of this progress:

• Strong results from top players and national teams
• Wider introduction of chess in schools
• Greater investment in coach training
• Expanded opportunities for young players across the country

Turlov stated that Kazakhstan’s model shows how close cooperation among the federation, government, schools, and the private sector can accelerate the growth of chess. As FIDE President, he intends to help other national federations develop stronger systems adapted to their unique circumstances while sharing Kazakhstan’s effective practices with the global chess community.

FIDE’s Strategic Priorities

President Turlov briefed his Kazakh counterpart on FIDE’s priorities for the coming years, which center on expanding chess in education, strengthening support for national federations, improving professional training for coaches and arbiters, developing youth chess, and creating more opportunities for international cooperation.

The meeting concluded with President Tokayev wishing President Turlov every success in his new role leading the International Chess Federation.

Source

This report is based on information published by FIDE — International Chess Federation.

Official source: https://www.fide.com/president-of-kazakhstan-kassym-jomart-tokayev-receives-fide-president-timur-turlov/