The 2022 FIDE Rapid and Blitz Championships will be held in Almaty on December 25-30, QazMonitor reports.
About 300 of the world’s top grandmasters and masters (men and women) from 70 countries have announced their participation. The list includes Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Nodirbek Abdusattorov.
A year ago, the chess championships were supposed to take place in Astana but did not because of covid restrictions.
Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), talked about the preparations for the tournament and the line-up for Team Kazakhstan.
"We believe that Kazakhstan is progressively becoming one of the world leaders in chess. We've had more success in women's chess and we still need to improve men's chess, but, in any case, we have something to show for and to be proud of," said Dvorkovich.
A total of 25 chess players from Kazakhstan will be competing.
The Kazakh team will arrive in Almaty on December 24. The line-up will include Zhansaya Abdumalik, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Dinara Saduakassova, Meruert Kamalidenova, Amina Kairbekova, Assel Serikbay, and Nazerke Nurgali.
The rapid and blitz championships will take place at the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace. The prize fund is $1 million.