Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard presented their teams in Almaty at the chess championship

In Almaty, a historic event took place — the opening of the first-ever FIDE World University Team Chess Championship. Kazakhstan is hosting 16 university teams from North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Among the participants are Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard universities, whose chess clubs have existed for over a century and a half. Our country is represented at the home championship by the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Kazakh National University of Sports, reports the magazine "Modern Education" with reference to the Telegram channel of Sayasat Nurbek.

"For us, chess is an educational tool that develops critical thinking, independence, responsibility, and the ability to build a long-term strategy. That is why, within the framework of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Chess for 2023–2027, we are consistently developing chess education," says Sayasat Nurbek. "More than 200 students from five pedagogical universities have already completed training under the Minor program 'Chess Teacher'. Educational programs including disciplines on chess education are being implemented in 31 universities of the country. The KazChessLab teaching and methodical laboratory has been opened on the basis of QyzPU, which will become a platform for developing modern teaching methods and training a new generation of educators."

The championship is a continuation of Kazakhstan's strategic cooperation with the International Chess Federation. Special importance is attached to this work by the support of the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev, who has repeatedly emphasized the role of chess in the intellectual development, upbringing, and education of youth.

Today, students from leading universities of the world are meeting at the same board. In the near future, many of them will become scientists, entrepreneurs, and heads of companies and state institutions. I am confident that the connections formed today in Almaty will become the basis for new academic projects and international cooperation.

Just like in the legend of the chessboard, something significant always begins with a single right move. I wish the participants brilliant games, well-deserved victories, and unforgettable impressions of Kazakhstan!, writes the minister.