Chairman of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Timur Turlov commented on the situation surrounding Kazakh chess after discussions about athlete funding. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
In a Facebook post, Turlov said he had been closely following events and hesitated to speak publicly because the situation is "really unpleasant." He noted that chess is not a formal duty for him, and his involvement goes beyond mere funding.
"Chess has never been a formal obligation or something frivolous, as some try to portray it. Today it is a significant part of my life. Moreover, my participation has never been limited to funding, so I will not list how much I have spent or invested," he wrote.
Turlov stated that Kazakh chess is experiencing a strong period: a generation of players is growing who win and represent the country at major international tournaments. He said this is the result of the work of coaches, parents, organizers, and the athletes themselves.
He also emphasized that the federation is engaged not only in high-performance sport but also in developing children in all regions of the country. Turlov expressed hope that Kazakh players will eventually enter the top 100 of the world open rating.
At the same time, the federation head expressed concern about how quickly the discussion turned into "a language of claims and grievances" and division into camps. He said that in such a situation, the chess community effectively begins to "play against itself," while the common opponent is on the international stage.
"It is worth remembering that children are watching this. Thousands of boys and girls across the country look up to our leading players. For an entire generation, it matters how a champion behaves in a difficult moment," Turlov noted.
He added that every athlete, their results and difficulties are important to him. However, according to Turlov, "a home is built on trust and mutual respect," and loud statements can undermine that trust.
Separately, the federation head noted that a Kazakh woman's entry into the world's strongest chess players is a significant result for the country. He did not name the athlete, but earlier Bibisara Assaubayeva appealed to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regarding funding and support for professional chess players.
"Talent of this level is rare, and I want it to unfold at the board, not dissolve in information noise. It is important not to make hasty decisions that cannot be undone later. Our main victories are still ahead, and they are achievable only together, under one flag," Turlov wrote.
According to him, Kazakh chess has not yet unlocked even 10% of its potential. Ahead are team tournaments, the future Olympiad, and a new generation of players.
"We are one team, and we have one flag above us," Turlov concluded.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva appealed to the President of Kazakhstan for help with funding and support for professional chess players. The reason was her victory at the Norway Chess tournament, where she took first place early. According to the athlete, preparation for the competition was funded from her own prize money and her parents' funds, while the work of seconds and analysts has not yet been paid.
Later, Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev said that in 2025 and 2026, Assaubayeva received funding totaling about 370 million tenge. Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation Gulmira Dauletova also said that in 2026, the KCF allocated a grant of 80 million tenge to the athlete and paid a bonus of 25 million tenge for her victory at the World Blitz Championship.