The 2026 Kazakhstan Junior U20 Chess Championship began on February 16 in Zhezkazgan, featuring classical, rapid, and blitz formats. Young players under 20 are competing for qualification to international events and a share of the 2.4 million tenge prize fund. The tournament continues through February 22 at the Zhiger Sports and Wellness Complex.
The 2026 Kazakhstan Junior U20 Chess Championship commenced on February 16, 2026, in Zhezkazgan, the administrative center of the Ulytau Region. Organized at the Zhiger Sports and Wellness Complex, the event follows January tournaments in Turkistan that identified top young players aged 6 to 18. In those earlier competitions, 16-year-old Alan Petukhov and 14-year-old Maria Kholyavko emerged as winners in the senior youth category, facing competition from Aiaru Altynbek, Artyom Bogdanov, and Inayat Bolat. Faster formats included additional leaders like Aldiyar Ansat, Daniyal Sapenov, Ergali Suleimen, and Mark Smirnov.
Among the boys, International Master Satbek Akhmedinov, rated at 2381, stands out as a leading contender. He previously finished second at the FIDE Asian Zonal Championship and competed at the FIDE World Cup in Goa. Other notable participants include FM Ernur Amangeldy, FM Aldiyar Zhauynbay, Vladislav Malygin, and FM Asman Bayantas.
In the girls' section, Asiya Asylkhan from the Turkistan Region defends her title. Her rivals include Zhanbota Kamarova, WFM Zhanya Nauranova, and WFM Maria Kholyavko, the current national U18 champion, with more players vying for medals.
Played under the Swiss system over nine rounds, the schedule covers classical chess from February 16 to 20 with a 60+30 time control, rapid on February 21 at 10+5, and blitz on February 22 at 3+2. The total prize fund is 2.4 million tenge, with classical prizes of 270,000 tenge for first, 210,000 for second, and 120,000 for third. Rapid and blitz offer 150,000, 100,000, and 50,000 tenge for the top three.
Classical winners will qualify for the Kazakhstan Adult Championship finals and the World Junior U20 Championship in Lima, Peru, in September 2026. Second-place finishers earn spots at the Asian Championship.
