IM Ramazan Zhalmakhanov and WIM Meruert Kamalidenova are the new champions of Kazakhstan. The Kazakhstan Chess Championship took place from December 2-11 in Semey, with the open and women’s events (round-robin tournaments with classical time control) running simultaneously.

The 9th-rated Ramazan Zhalmakhanov (pictured below) caused a minor sensation in the open championship scoring 9/13 and finishing a full point ahead of Kazybek Nogerbek and Denis Makhnev, who tied for second place. The 20-year-old from Almaty took a practical approach drawing the games with his main competitors and notching up several victories against the participants from the bottom of the standings, which worked perfectly for him.

The silver medal goes to Kazybek Nogerbek, thanks to better Sonneborn-Berger; Denis Makhnev took the bronze. The champion and the runner-up became the only unbeaten players in the competition.  

Final standings:

The fate of the title in the women’s championship was decided in the final eleventh round. Sitting on 8/10, the rating favourite and the leader Meruert Kamalidenova (pictured below) did not play (due to the odd number of participants) and had to wait for the outcome of the game between her main rival Alua Nurmanova vs Elnaz Kaliakhment.

Photo: Niki Riga

Trailing Kamalidenova by a full point, Nurmanova needed a victory to catch up with the leader she beat in the direct encounter. Playing with the white pieces, Alua came very close and had a study-like win at some point but missed her chance and had to settle for a draw to finish a half-point behind the champion (7½/10).

Xeniya Balabayeva and Amina Kairbekova scored 6½/10 each and tied for third place, with the former taking bronze by dint of slightly better Sonneborn-Berger.

Final standings:

Photo: Kazakhstan Chess Federation Facebook page

Official website: kazchess.kz/