00:00SILVER AND WORLD RAPID AND BLITZ TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LONDON
00:06KAZACH WOMEN'S TEAM SILVER IN CHESS OLYMPIAD IN BUDAPEST
00:10160 GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE METALS IN 2024
00:14The rise of Kazach chess is nothing short of remarkable.
00:18Popularity is soaring, results are multiplying and the world is taking notice.
00:23Today I'm attempting to uncover the secret behind this phenomenon.
00:27This is Modern Nomads.
00:30Every rocket needs fuel.
00:47Kazach chess received an influx of fuel in 2023,
00:50when the Chess Federation got a new president and a new sponsor in one person.
00:55Timur Turlov is a local fintech entrepreneur and the second richest businessman in Kazakhstan.
01:01We have a very strong program, a federation-sponsored program,
01:06to support young talents, to provide them equipment, software.
01:11We pay for their personal trainings and providing access to the best chess trainers.
01:19Participation in national and international championships also require a hefty sum.
01:25Funding turned out to be a vital element of the success of chess, but not the only one.
01:29Почему Советский Союз, вплоть до развала, был абсолютно впереди всех?
01:33Потому что была организационная система.
01:36Примерно то же самое делается сейчас в Казахстане.
01:39Структура совершенно другая, но тем не менее системный подход существует.
01:43The approach envelops introducing chess to schools and clubs,
01:47organizing amateur and professional tournaments,
01:49popularizing chess through media, and expanding global presence.
01:53You travel a lot and see a lot of international tournaments.
01:59How do other countries perceive Kazakhstan and its Chess Federation?
02:04I think in our days, everyone already respects Kazakh players in chess,
02:11especially the girls, because of our results.
02:14And I think it's really nice to hear all the good comments.
02:19Women's chess holds a special place in Kazakhstan.
02:22Five female chess players are in FIDE's top 100 women list.
02:27Our women chess players are always being good,
02:32and I think it's our tradition to inspire each other by our results.
02:36Ksenia is one of 16 women grandmasters in Kazakhstan's history.
02:40She's a world champion in blitz and rapid chess,
02:43and she was part of Kazakhstan's national team,
02:45which won historic silver in Budapest Olympiad.
02:48First of all, in women's chess, there's less competition.
02:52If women's chess players achieve certain achievements,
02:56then in the world it's a pretty high level.
02:59Ksenia is only 19 and is already considered an old guard.
03:03Younger generation is quickly gaining up on her cohort.
03:06I think in our days, six years old is already kind of late because,
03:11yes, I heard many stories like that kids start playing at three years, four years old.
03:16So, I mean, it's just easier to achieve something when you start playing younger.
03:21If you want to become the world's champion, so most probably you have to be a grandmaster.
03:28I don't know, 14, 16 years old, so quite young.
03:31You should be quite young and to be competitive in this crazy world.
03:35Alimzhan Zhangbai became a world champion at the age of 11
03:40by winning gold at Fujaira Global Chess Championships this fall.
03:43He's a silver medalist from Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival
03:46and a two-time world champion in school chess.
03:49I learned to play during the pandemic.
03:52My dad and my brother were taught us.
03:55We played.
03:56I just liked it.
03:58Then we started to play professionally with our trainer.
04:02My goal is to achieve a international master.
04:06His success reflects the philosophy Kaz Chess Federation is pursuing today,
04:10nurturing local talent to facilitate national growth.
04:14If we want to have a strong and sustainable development in our country and for our business,
04:23it's very important to pay attention, especially for these intellectual games.
04:30because the development of human capital is extremely important for the sustainable growth.
04:47Kazach chess may just be at the beginning of its journey,
04:49but the achievements already speak to themselves.
04:52The future holds even greater triumphs.
04:54We will be watching closely.
04:56like a video on the first day.
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