Dear Chess Enthusiasts!
On February 25, 2026, the Almaty Region Rapid Chess Cup among representatives of the mass media and healthcare sectors will be held at the House of Culture of the Besagash Rural District, Talgar District, Almaty Region. The tournament is organized as part of the Round of 16 of the Senat Cup 2026.
The main goal of the competition is to promote chess as an intellectual sport, improve the participants’ skills, and identify the strongest players who will advance to the national stage.
The tournament will be conducted according to FIDE rules under the Swiss system consisting of 9 rounds. The time control is 10 minutes per player with an additional 5 seconds added after each move (starting from the first move).
On February 24, participant registration and a meeting of the Credentials Commission will take place. On February 25, the official opening ceremony, main rounds of the competition, and the award ceremony for the winners will be held. February 26 is scheduled as the departure day for participants.
Representatives of the mass media of the Almaty Region are invited to participate, including journalists, editors, correspondents, television and radio presenters, camera operators, press service and PR specialists, employees of online media platforms, as well as bloggers with an audience of more than 5,000 subscribers. Healthcare workers are also invited, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, specialists from medical organizations and private medical centers. The participants’ rating in classical chess, rapid chess, or blitz as of January 1, 2026, must not exceed 2000.
The prize fund is provided by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. Winners and prize-winners will receive diplomas of I, II, and III degrees, medals, and cash prizes:
1st place — 35,000 tenge
2nd place — 30,000 tenge
3rd place — 25,000 tenge
Special nominations with additional prizes are also предусмотрены.
Based on the results of the tournament, the best players will receive qualification spots in the quarterfinals of the III Open “Senat Open” Cup.
Tournament Director — Ivan Mezentsev
📞 +7 705 152 4848
Chief Referee — Viktor Panov
📞 +7 707 266 77 04
