First Vice President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Darmen Sadvakasov commented on the situation surrounding one of the country's strongest chess players, Bibisara Assaubayeva, urging not to jump to conclusions and to focus on constructive dialogue. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
Sadvakasov stressed that the federation does not pay salaries to chess players, as they are professional athletes and earn income through participation in tournaments and prize money.
"The Kazakhstan Chess Federation does not pay salaries to athletes. This is no coincidence. Members of the national team are primarily professional athletes. They win substantial cash prizes in official and commercial tournaments thanks to their professional level of play and motivation. Their motivation is to play as well as possible. The task of the KCF is not to undermine professional motivation by paying monetary allowances, but to create conditions in which the athlete can grow, strive to win, and earn through their results in tournaments," he noted.
According to Sadvakasov, Assaubayeva is one of Kazakhstan's main sporting achievements and has already proven her high level on the international stage.
He recalled that the chess player recently won the prestigious Norway Chess tournament and also took second place in the Candidates Tournament.
"Bibisara is an undoubted asset of Kazakhstan. We are proud of her talent and very cool achievements," Sadvakasov wrote on Facebook.
At the same time, the federation representative emphasized that high sports results require not only talent but also discipline, psychological stability, a strong team, and the ability to withstand pressure at major tournaments.
According to the first vice president of the KCF, it is important to maintain trust between all parties and avoid confrontation in the current situation.
"The Kazakhstan Chess Federation is interested in Bibisara's well-being. I am sure that Bibisara herself is interested in her career developing correctly and that she continues to represent Kazakhstan with dignity," he stressed.
In conclusion, Sadvakasov noted that the state and the sports system have invested in the development of the chess player for many years, creating conditions for her growth and entry into the world level, so the athlete's success implies mutual responsibility of all participants in the process.
"We all want one thing — for Bibisara to win, for Kazakh chess to become stronger, and for our team to perform confidently on the world stage," he summed up.
Earlier, Bibisara Assaubayeva appealed to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev with a complaint about problems with funding and interaction with sports officials.
According to the chess player, she paid for preparation for the Norway Chess tournament from her own prize money, and her salary from the Ministry of Sports has been reduced approximately threefold since 2025. Assaubayeva also stated that she does not receive a salary from the Kazakhstan Chess Federation.