Kazakhstan takes silver at World Schools Chess Championship
RPMS Almaty takes second place as Kazakh players secure three individual medals at global school chess tournament
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan delivered an impressive performance at the 2025 FIDE World Schools Team Chess Championship, taking home a team silver and three individual medals at the international event hosted near Washington, D.C.
According to a report by DKNews.kz, the Republican Physics and Mathematics School (RPMS) in Almaty secured second place overall, while young prodigy Imangali Akhilbay won individual gold. Edgar Mamedov and Zarina Nurgaliyeva earned bronze medals for their performances on boards 1 and 3, respectively.
This year’s tournament featured 55 school teams from 48 countries. Unlike previous editions, there were no age or gender quotas — team selection was based purely on chess skill. Six teams from Kazakhstan competed, with several finishing among the top 10.
RPMS Almaty won key matches against teams from Turkey, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Its second team, RPMS-2 from Astana, also performed strongly, placing fourth overall. The SEED Educational Complex from Astana narrowly missed a podium finish after drawing with The Harker School from the U.S. in the final round.
India’s Velammal MHS School claimed the gold, while RPMS Almaty finished with 12 points — tied with two other teams but ranked second on tiebreaks. The tournament also saw standout games from CM Danis Kuandykuly and others from Kazakhstan’s SEED and RPMS-2 teams.
“This wasn’t just a competition — it was a statement,” said Timur Turlov, President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. “Our players showed that investment in education and chess is paying off. These medals reflect hard work, discipline, and the strength of our school system.”
Kazakhstan’s delegation received strong support from its embassy in the U.S., with Ambassador Yerzhan Ashikbayev attending the event and backing the teams throughout.
With growing state support and a new generation of rising talent, Kazakhstan continues to cement its position as a global chess powerhouse.
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