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Chess: Young Kazakh Boy Takes on World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen

Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked chess player for more than a decade, stretched back and yawned as he waited to begin a match at the 2024 FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Team Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan. Facing him across the board was Nurassyl Primbetov, a young Kazakh boy who smiled and straightened his black pieces in their squares ahead of what was surely one of his biggest moments as a chess talent. Primbetov was born in 2013, according to the FIDE website. “Who is this young player? It must be so exciting for him to be facing Magnus Carlsen,” said Irina Krush, an American grandmaster doing commentary for FIDE, the International Chess Federation, on its YouTube channel. Another commentator warned against underestimating very young players, saying they are often “super dangerous” in blitz chess. It was one of the more unusual encounters in the chess event, which drew many of the world’s best players to the Kazakh capital over the past week. In the rapid chess contest, the Al-Ain ACMG UAE team was the winner, while the Decade China team led by world champion Ding Liren came second. The WR Chess team, which included Carlsen, won the blitz portion of the championship, defeating Indian squad MGD1 in the final on Monday. “I’ve been struggling a bit here, coming from a big time difference. I haven’t really been able to sleep much. Today I was really running on fumes,” a bleary-eyed Carlsen said after his team’s blitz victory in an interview on the FIDE channel. Carlsen, who is from Norway, said adrenaline had eventually kicked in and he was able to focus better. “Honestly, I just want to sleep. So, that’s how I’ll celebrate,” he said. Earlier, there was buzz around the clash between Carlsen, with a rating of 2,888 points in blitz chess, and Primbetov, with a rating of 1,904. “As a kid, it is not every day that you get to play with the world #1 Magnus Carlsen,” ChessBase India said. Representing the Baiterekchess team, Primbetov met Carlsen in a pre-knockout qualifying round. The Kazakh player came under early pressure as Carlsen’s white knights pushed hard on the black king side. Blitz games last just a few minutes and 33-year-old Carlsen was up on the clock against his young opponent, who was running out of time. Still, Krush noted that Carlsen, a world champion in multiple years, wasn’t trying to play very fast or unleash any fancy moves that could deliver a quick checkmate against the Kazakh boy. “He’s not trying to put any psychological pressure on his young opponent,” Krush said, adding that she didn’t think it was “an accident” because Carlsen tends to show a “gentleman-like demeanor towards these younger players.” Carlsen was once a child prodigy himself. As a 13-year-old in 2004, he drew a game against Garry Kasparov, one of the all-time greats. As Carlsen’s position strengthened and a win appeared inevitable, Primbetov played for a stalemate instead of resigning. But Carlsen bore down with a...

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Preparations for 5th World Nomad Games Being Finalized in Kazakhstan

From September 8 to 14, 2024, Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, will host the World Nomad Games, reflecting the cultural heritage of nomadic peoples. The competition promises to be a grandiose event for all participants and spectators. According to preliminary information, about 3000 athletes from 100 countries will participate in the games. The Games, an international competition in nomadic sports, was first held in 2014 in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, and quickly gained international recognition. The games are held every two years and aim to preserve and popularize unique ethnic sports and cultural traditions. Cholpon-Ata has hosted the international competition three times. In 2014, there were 583 athletes from 19 countries and ten sports; in 2016, there were 1,200 athletes from 62 countries with 26 sports; and in 2018, 2,000 athletes from 82 countries participated in 37 sports. The 4th World Nomad Games were held in 2022 in Iznik, Turkey, and were attended by 3,000 athletes from 102 countries with 13 sporting events. The 2024 program promises to be rich and diverse, covering many disciplines such as kokpar (buzkashi), horse racing, national wrestling, archery, hunting with birds, and traditional intellectual games. A total of 21 competitive sports will be contested, and 97 sets of medals will be awarded. This year's Games program includes rarely-seen sports, such as traditional horseback wrestling. One of the key features of the World Nomad Games is its cultural program. As part of the Games, the Nomad Universe Festival will be held, which will present ethnic exhibitions of traditional crafts and national dishes. This will allow the event's guests to become acquainted with the rich cultural heritage of nomadic peoples, feel the spirit of ancient traditions, and enjoy the unique atmosphere. The main sports venues of the Games will include the Astana Arena, Kazanat Hippodrome, Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace, Alau Ice Palace, and Duman Complex. These modern facilities will ensure high-quality competitions and comfort for participants and spectators alike. Executive Director of the 5th World Nomad Games, Nail Nurov has said that preparations for the large-scale event have reached the final stages, also emphasizing that the World Nomad Games are not only a sporting event, but also a cultural event. "Now we are creating a large ethno-village of 10 hectares. In addition to the scenes of rich nomadic culture, there will also be a city of artisans. There will be conferences where scientific presentations will be made in the field of traditional sports. This time, there will [also] be a talk on nomadic food culture," he stated.

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Cash, Horses, But No Meatballs — What Kazakhstan’s Olympic Medalists Receive For Their Success

As Kazakhstani athletes begin returning home from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the medalists are being greeted not only by new fans, but with payments and presents from the government. Yeldos Smetov, Kazakhstan's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in judo, received the keys to a Lexus LX 600 SUV worth at least 78 million KZT ($165,000). He was also given a 5-room apartment in his native Taraz, and a check for 2.6m KZT ($5,500). Smetov received a $250,000 government bonus, lifetime monthly payments of 369,000 KZT ($785), and was promised a herd of 100 thoroughbred horses. Meanwhile, Gusman Kyrgyzbayev, a bronze judo medalist at the Games, was also showered with gifts. A judoka who usually represents the Ministry of Defense's own sports club, Kyrgyzbayev was promoted from senior lieutenant to captain upon his return to Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzbayev was also given a Toyota Land Cruiser-250 SUV worth about 31 million KZT ($65,000), and received $75,000 as a state award. Kazakhstan's Ministry of Tourism and Sports has announced monetary incentives for anyone else who brings a medal home from Paris. Gold medalists will be paid $250,000; silver medalists will receive $150,000, and bronze medalists will receive $75,000. Bonuses of $30,000, $10,000, and $5,000 are also provided for 4th, 5th, and 6th places respectively. As generous as the Kazakh government has been, in East Asia the rewards are even more lavish. The government of Hong Kong is promising prize money of 6 million local dollars ($768,000) to any champions at the 2024 Olympics. In Malaysia, meanwhile, the recent gold medalists in badminton doubles, Apriyani Rahai and Gracie Poli, were each given five cows, a specialty meatball restaurant, and a new house.

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Controversy and Confrontation Surround LGBT Issues in Kazakhstan

The situation surrounding the so-called “LGBT propaganda” conversation continues to heat up in Kazakhstan. Known for its controversial initiatives and stances, earlier this year the Parents' Union published a petition demanding a ban on demonstrations of non-traditional relationships in the country. The petition gained over 50,000 signatures, meaning Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information must consider it under a law passed following Tokayev’s promise of a more engaged and aware “listening state.” However, UN experts have warned that Kazakhstan should not accept the petition for consideration, as it would seriously damage the republic's image in the international arena. The authors of the petition “We are against open and hidden propaganda of LGBT in Kazakhstan,” published on the official portal E-Petition.kz, is the Kazakhstan Union of Parents. The Ministry of Culture reported that according to Article 90-4 of the Administrative Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the petition should be considered. A working group, which includes representatives of interested parties, state bodies, and public associations, has been established, and hearings are underway. [caption id="attachment_21311" align="aligncenter" width="598"] Poster of Kazakh composer Kurmangazy Sagyrbaiuly and Russian poet Aleksandr Pushkin, Havas Worldwide, Facebook[/caption] UN warning On July 31, UN experts said Kazakhstan should reject the petition calling for a law banning gay propaganda. The statement was attributed to Graham Reed, Independent Expert on the Protection against Violence and Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation and Gender, Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Mary Llor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, Gina Romero Rodriguez, Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and Farida Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on the right to education. "The Government of Kazakhstan should reject the petition it is considering for legislation that violates freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The petition itself is based on prejudice, and any legislation resulting from it inevitably and unlawfully tramples on human rights,” the UN experts stated. In their opinion, the call for a ban on propaganda of the LGBT movement contradicts the Administrative Procedure Code of Kazakhstan. According to it, the government is prohibited from considering petitions, the implementation of which may lead to the violations of human rights and freedoms. If the government responds to the petition and adopts a law banning the public expression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) identity, it would violate many rights, including freedom of expression and equality before the law, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Kazakhstan ratified in 2005. The UN has previously expressed concern about similar bills on so-called “LGBT propaganda” in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Russian Federation. In Russia, laws against “LGBT propaganda” were introduced in 2013 and were tightened in 2022. A complete legal ban on LGBT propaganda (among people of all ages) was introduced, administrative cases were conducted, and internet resources were blocked. Kyrgyzstan passed a similar law in 2023, effectively...

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Turkmen Tennis Player to Enter Qualifying for Junior French Open

Sabrina Rakhmanova, an under-17 tennis player from Turkmenistan, has been given a 'wild card' entry to compete in a regional qualifying tournament for the junior French Open. The winner of the Central and West Asia qualifier, which will be held at Almaty's Gorky Tennis Park from August 5-9, will earn a place in the competition's main draw, on the clay courts at Roland Garros in Paris. The French Open at Roland Garros has been held since in 1891. Its main and junior competitions are one of the four annual Grand Slams, making them one of the world's biggest tennis tournaments. Rakhmanova's opportunity to play at the qualifying tournament came thanks to a new partnership between the Asian Tennis Federation and the French Tennis Federation. Rakhmanova is currently being coached by Turkmenistan's leading tennis coach, Mirali Hasanov, at a three-week training camp in Uzbekistan. Turkmenistan organizes various tennis tournaments, and the country marks World Tennis Day with competitions for juniors and adults. The national tennis federation organizes the Central Asian Team Championships in Ashgabat for children under twelve.

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Central Asian Boxers Poised for Olympic Medals This Week

Mark your calendars: boxers from Central Asia are going for gold in Paris. On Wednesday, Kazakh boxer Nurbek Oralbay will fight for Olympic gold in the 80-kilogram class final. Then, on Friday, Lazizbek Mullojonov of Uzbekistan will do the same in the 92-kilogram final. Kazakhstan’s Oralbay, 24, defeated Dominican boxer Christian Pinales in a 3-2 decision on Sunday and will face Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine in the middleweight final on Aug. 7. Oralbay’s twin brother, Aibek, is also a boxer. He competed in the 92-kilogram class at this year’s Olympics but lost in the quarterfinals. “Their father, a former freestyle wrestler, wanted Nurbek and his brother to follow in his footsteps,” olympics.com reported. “But money was tight at home and boxing coach Askar Yerkebayev (KAZ) offered to train the boys in boxing for free, saying he had a dream to take twins to the world championships - and their father agreed.” The Olympics Games website also reported that Nurbek once pretended to be Aibek in a bout because Aibek was ill. It didn’t offer more details on that subterfuge. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Mullojonov is up against Loren Alfonso of Azerbaijan in the Aug. 9 heavyweight final. Mullojonov, 25, defeated Tajikistan’s Davlat Boltaev in the semifinal on Sunday, and the Tajik boxer gets a bronze medal. Mullojonov, who comes from Uzbekistan’s Ferghana region, was a super heavyweight gold medalist at the 2022 Asian Championships. -- They call him “The Big Uzbek.” Another Central Asian boxer to watch in Paris this week is Uzbekistan’s Bakhodir Jalolov, who competes against Nelvie Raman Tiafack of Germany in a semifinal of the 92-kilogram-plus class on Aug. 7. Jalolov, 30, is a defending champion. He was the super heavyweight champion at the Tokyo games in 2021. He has said he wants to become a professional boxer. -- Nariman Kurbanov of Kazakhstan brought home silver in the men’s pommel horse, the first Olympic medal in gymnastics for the Central Asian country. “20 years of hard work, 35 seconds on the Olympic podium. And now - History!” Kurbanov, 26, said on Instagram. Kurbanov scored 15.433 on Saturday, just falling short of Ireland’s Rhys McClenaghan, whose score of 15.533 propelled him to gold. The road to Olympic success has indeed been arduous for Kurbanov, whose father got him into the sport when he was a young boy. "I had no other choice. My father is a gymnastics coach. He brought me into the gym literally from the cradle. At first, I just ran there, jumped, fooled around. But at the age of five my dad began to train me professionally," Kurbanov said, according to the International Gymnastics Federation. Kurbanov had failed to qualify as an apparatus specialist for the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. -- Veteran sprinter Valentina Meredova of Turkmenistan has competed in Paris, 16 years after making her Olympic debut in Beijing. The 39-year-old ran a 12:01 in the preliminary round of the 100 meters on Friday, finishing fourth in her group and advancing to the next round....