15-year-old Kazakh athlete Sauat Nurgaliyev managed to win a bronze medal in Montesilvano, Italy, where the FIDE World Youth Chess Championships 2026 concluded, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation reported. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
"The 2026 World Youth Chess Championships in age categories U14, U16 and U18 featured 742 young chess players from 85 countries and territories. Kazakhstan sent a delegation of 35 people. The best result was shown by the current Kazakhstan men's classical chess champion Sauat Nurgaliyev in the O16 category. He managed to score 8.5 points and become third among 152 athletes," the statement said.
During the tournament, Sauat Nurgaliyev achieved five consecutive wins in the final rounds, defeating opponents from Italy, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine. A month earlier, he became the champion of Kazakhstan among men.
The results of the tournament participants in Italy were quite tight. For example, in the G14 group, the first place was separated from the 21st by only two points, so even one draw greatly affected the overall result.
One of the strongest young Kazakh athletes, Mark Smirnov, finished fifth in the O14 category. His teammate Dias Kuandyquly was 11th, although they had the same number of points; all was decided by additional indicators. The athlete who took third place in this category, American Ethan Guo, also scored 8 points, like Mark Smirnov and Dias Kuandyquly, and they were separated from first place by only one point. In Mark's case, the overall result was affected by the last round game, where he drew.
In the G16 group, Kazakh athlete Yelnaz Kaliakhmet became fourth, followed by Kazakh Maria Kholyavko in fifth place with the same number of points – 8. They are separated from second and third places by only half a point.
In the O18 category, Edgar Mamedov took fifth place with 8 points, the same as the athlete in third place. The medal issue was decided by additional indicators.
Earlier, Kazakh athlete Alua Nurman reported that she won a silver medal at the 2026 World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Hong Kong.
"World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship, Hong Kong – silver... Our team Barys performed with dignity... Unfortunately, after losing to the Indian team MGD1, we finished the tournament in ninth place, but there were many bright and tense matches along the way. As a nice bonus, I am very happy to win a silver medal on the women's board. During the tournament, I managed to defeat the 12th world champion, last year's World Cup winner, and also draw with the current world champion... Speaking of personal achievements, I was glad to win my mini-match against the second female chess player in the world with a score of 1.5:0.5," she wrote on Instagram.