Winter Championship of Shymkent
The winter chess season in southern Kazakhstan heats up with the “Winter Championship of Shymkent” — a classical open hosted in the Chess Hall at Kazhymukan (Kazhimukan) Stadium, Shymkent. Running 6–14 December 2025, this 9-round Swiss welcomes local and visiting players and is submitted for both national and FIDE rating.
Expect a professionally run event by KazChess Shymkent, led by an experienced arbiting team. The venue is centrally located near Abay Park with strong public-transport links, making it convenient for out-of-town players and families.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 6 – 14 December 2025 |
| 📍 Location | Chess Hall, Kazhymukan Stadium, Shymkent, Kazakhstan |
| ♟️ Format | 9-Round Swiss (classical) |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move (from move 1) |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE international & Kazakhstan national rating calculation |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open city championship for men and women (all federations welcome unless restricted by organizer) |
| 📞 Registration | +7 701 311 55 99 (tournament registration number) |
| 👨⚖️ Officials | Chief Arbiter: IA Vasiliy Shimelkov • Deputy: NA Bolat Kuzembayev • Director: NA Seitzhamal Supbayev |
| 🖥️ Pairings Software | Swiss-Manager (Heinz Herzog) |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
60′ + 30″ increment from move 1 (all rounds).
9-round Swiss, pairings published on Chess-Results.
Submitted for FIDE international and Kazakhstan national rating.
📅 Schedule
(Official round-by-round times were not published at the time of writing; the event runs 6–14 December 2025 over 9 rounds.)
📝 Registration
How to enter: Call +7 701 311 55 99 and provide your name, FIDE ID, and contact details.
Player list & pairings: Posted on the event page: https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1287195.aspx?lan=1&turdet=YES&SNode=S0
Notes: The organizer may set section caps or verify eligibility on-site; bring an ID and know your FIDE ID.
👥 Organizer
Organized by KazChess Shymkent with support from regional chess authorities.
Phone (registration): +7 701 311 55 99
Tournament page: https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1287195.aspx?lan=1&turdet=YES&SNode=S0
Pairing program: Swiss-Manager (official on event page).
🏨 Venue
Chess Hall, Kazhymukan (Kazhimukan) Munaitpasov Stadium, Shymkent — a central multi-purpose sports complex near Abay Park with extensive surrounding facilities.
Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps?q=1+Madeli+Kozha+St,+Shymkent,+Kazakhstan
🚗 How to Get There
By air: Fly to Shymkent International Airport; taxis and ride-shares connect directly to the city.
By bus (local): The stadium area is served by several routes (stop typically signed for the Public Service Center/“TsON”).
By car: Navigate to Kazhymukan Stadium (address area: 1 Madeli Kozha St). Parking is available around the sports complex.
Other
Event type: Seasonal city championship for men and women, Shymkent.
Arbiters & officials: Director NA Seitzhamal Supbayev; Chief Arbiter IA Vasiliy Shimelkov; Deputy NA Bolat Kuzembayev.
Upload status: Tournament details and player list hosted on Chess-Results (last update noted on the event page).
Naming: Stadium appears in English as Kazhymukan / Kazhimukan / Qazhymuqan Munaitpasov Stadium.
Organizer
KazChess Shymkent is the official regional branch of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess) for the city of Shymkent. As part of KazChess’s nationwide network of regional offices, the branch is responsible for coordinating chess life in the city: organizing official tournaments, promoting chess in schools and sports centers, and creating a clear pathway from beginner level to national competition.
The branch runs a busy calendar of events, including city championships, classic, rapid and blitz tournaments, and a series of open qualification events branded as “KazChess Шымкент” where children and adults can earn their first and subsequent chess ranks. Many of these tournaments are held in recognizable city venues such as the Kazhimukan Stadium chess hall, making chess visible and accessible to families across Shymkent.
KazChess Shymkent is led by a regional team under the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, with director Altyn Yesirkepova overseeing branch activities and working closely with local authorities, schools, clubs and private academies. Their shared goal is to turn Shymkent into one of the most active chess cities in the country, using regular tournaments, training projects and social initiatives to bring more children and adults into organized chess.
Address: ul. Madeli Kozha 1A, Turan district, Shymkent, Kazakhstan
Email: shymkent@kazchess.org.kz
Phone: +7 701 311 55 99
Phone 2: +7 705 274 14 14
Website: https://kazchess.kz/