The first Central and North Asian Chess Championship among boys and girls will be held in Korumdu village, Issyk-Kul region, from June 30 to July 9, 2026. The tournament will be held under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) and the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in the age categories of U8, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, and U20.
According to the Kyrgyz Chess Union, more than 500 young chess players from six countries will participate in the championship: the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. Participants include International Masters (IM), FIDE Masters (FM), and Women’s FIDE Masters (WFM), as well as more than 25 winners and runners-up of the World, Asian, West Asian, and Central Asian Championships.
Holding such a tournament is of particular importance to Kyrgyzstan.
«For the first time, our children will be able to participate in a top international championship on their home soil, gain international experience, improve their ranking, and compete for international title norms. In the U20 category, winners will be able to qualify for the Grandmaster standard, subject to compliance with the regulations.
Central and North Asia is currently one of the most competitive chess regions in the world. The Kyrgyz Republic will be represented by the largest team—approximately 200 participants—underscoring the importance of holding such competitions within the country and the accessibility of international competitions for our children,» the statement reads.
The opening ceremony of the championship will take place on July 1, 2026, and the closing and awards ceremony will take place on July 8.
Holding the first Central and North Asian Championship in Issyk-Kul region is a major sporting event, an investment in the future of Kyrgyz children, and an important step toward strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s international standing in the chess world.
