The team of the Kazakh National University of Sports (KNUS) lost to Russians in the semifinal of the FIDE World University Team Chess Championship-2026. Tomorrow, our chess players will play for bronze against Americans. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

In the first round of the semifinal, Meruert Kamalidenova brought the only victory to Kazakhstanis, forcing Leia Garifullina from the Ural Mining University team to capitulate on the 63rd move with white pieces.

Arystan Isanzhulov lost to Sergei Lobanov with black pieces. Kazybek Nogerbek played a draw with Arseny Nesterov with black pieces, and Satbek Akhmedinov with white pieces against Rudik Makaryan.

After drawing 2:2 in the first round, our team lost the second round 1:3. After changing colors, Kamalidenova drew with Garifullina, and Nogerbek drew with Nesterov. Isanzhulov and Akhmedinov lost.

Tomorrow, our chess players, representing the alma mater from Astana, will compete for bronze against the University of Texas at Dallas team. Its lineup includes Indians Aditya Samant and Chatterjee Kustav, Israeli Yair Parkhov, and Canadian Mayli-Jade Ouellet.

For gold, the Yekaterinburg team and the St. Louis international team will compete. The St. Louis team includes Indians Chopra Arian and Subramanian Bharat, Slovak Viktor Gazik, Georgian Nikoloz Kacharava, and American Talia Cervantes-Landeiro.

World University Team Chess Championship-2026

  • 01UGGU (Russia) – KNUS (Kazakhstan) 2:2, 3:1
  • 02University of Texas (USA) – St. Louis University (USA) 0.5:3.5, 1:3

Matches for 3rd place and the final, like group stage matches, are played in two rounds. In case of a draw, winners will be determined by a tie-break.

Matches are played on four boards. Each team must have at least one man and at least one woman. Time control is 45 minutes plus 30 seconds per move starting from the first move.

The first World University Team Chess Championship was organized by FIDE together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, and the Akimat of Almaty. General partners are the Freedom group of companies and the Shapagat corporate fund.

The total prize fund is €50 thousand. Champions will receive €25 thousand, vice-champions – €15 thousand, and the third team will share €10 thousand.