Kazakh chess grandmasters face British peers in landmark Parliament match

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — In a rare fusion of diplomacy, sport, and politics, a team of Kazakhstan’s top chess grandmasters faced representatives of the British Parliament in a landmark exhibition match held inside the halls of Westminster.

According to the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, this was the first-ever chess game hosted at such a high political level in the UK, featuring international players and sitting members of Parliament. The match was organized by the Kazakh Embassy in London with support from KazChess, DKnews.kz reported.

The Kazakh side featured some of the country’s most accomplished players, including grandmasters Kazybek Nogerbek, Alisher Suleymenov, Kseniya Balabayeva, Gulmira Dauletova, and Darmen Sadvakasov. Their British counterparts included political figures and seasoned amateur players such as Lord Harold Carter, Lord Patrick Lawrence, Lord Dafydd Wigley, and former No.10 adviser Jamie Njoku-Goodwin.

One of the standout matches was between Chris Fegan, a parliamentary staff member and the UK team’s strongest player, and Alisher Suleymenov, who was pushed to the limit in a tightly contested game.

The match coincided with Kazakhstan’s participation in the 2025 FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Team Championships, being held in London from June 10 to 16. Team KazChess, led by executive director and player Gulmira Dauletova, is joined by two additional squads — Barys and Rookies — featuring Kazakh players.

The championship operates under a club format, where teams are formed not just by national federations but also by sponsors and private partners. Teams from countries including India, Uzbekistan, Germany, the UK, and Kazakhstan are competing in this year’s edition.