Outstanding world players and grandmasters will take part in Blitz and Rapid tournaments: Hou Yifan, Hayk Martirosyan, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Gelfand, Vincent Keymer, Levon Aronian, Kateryna Lagno, Alexander Grischuk, Arjun Erigaisi, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Javokhir Sindarov, Jakhongir Vakhidov.
During the Festival, Biennale of the personal collection of masterpieces by world champion Bibisara Assaubayeva will take place.
YOUTH TOURNAMENT
Participants of the Youth tournament Festival will fight for the Cup of the first World Champion in Kazakhstan, Bibisara Assaubayeva.
During the tournament, there will be an exciting session of simultaneous play with the world's top chess players.
Invitation to the tournament from Bibisara Assaubayeva
GENERAL PARTNER OF THE FESTIVAL
National Lottery
Strategic partner
Partner of the Youth tournament
Technical partner
Charity partner
Construction partner
Gift partner
Media Partner
Sports partner
Wine partner
Venue of the festival
Confectionery Partner
Flower partner
Non-alcoholic partner
PARTICIPANTS
Vladimir Kramnik
Levon Aronian
Boris Gelfand
Alexander Grischuk
Hou Yifan
Javokhir Sindarov
Vincent Keymer
Hayk Martirosyan
Kateryna Lagno
Arjun Erigaisi
Jakhongir Vakhidov
Bibisara Assaubayeva
BROADCAST OF THE TOURNAMENT
The world's leading commentators will commentate on the matches: the American chess guru James Canty and the multiple British chess champion Jovanka Houska. Anvar Shaikhymov will broadcasting in Kazakh. International Master Talgat Gubaidulin comments in Kazakh and Russian.
In addition to the official broadcast, they will stream worldwide on their Twitch and YouTube platforms.
Commentators
Jovanka Houska
James Canty
Anvar Shaikhymov
Talgat Gubaidulin
MEDIA ACCREDITATION
SCHEDULE
April 19
16:00 — press conference
19:30 — opening ceremony of the Festival "Satty Zhuldyz", drawing of lots, musical program.
April 20
10:00 — opening ceremony of the youth tournament
RAPID
11:00 — youth tournament
RAPID
17:00 — grandmasters
April 21
RAPID
11:00 - youth tournament
17:00 — grandmasters
April 22
RAPID
11:00 — youth tournament
17:00 — grandmasters
April 23
Day off
Opening master classes, photo shoots with grandmasters
16:00 — session of the simultaneous game of young chess players with grandmasters
April 24
BLITZ
09:30 -—youth tournament
14:00 — closing ceremony of the youth tournament, awarding
17:00 — grandmasters
April 25
BLITZ
14:00 — grandmasters
19:30 — closing ceremony of the Festival "Sattі zhuldyz", awarding, music program
PRESS RELEASES
18.04
19.04
20.04
21.04
22.04
Announcing the Chess Festival Satty Zhuldyz, Held in Astana April 19 - 26, 2023
The Bibisara Assaubayeva Foundation in conjunction with the National Lottery of the
Republic of Kazakhstan, Satty Zhuldyz (“Lucky Stars”), are proud to announce a major
Rapid and Blitz chess tournament to be held alongside the Classical Chess World
Championship Match, 2023.
Some of the best players in the world were treated to the best of Kazakh hospitality, as
the Satty Zhuldyz Chess Festival 2023 officially opened.
During the afternoon, Alexander Ten – president of our general partner, Satty Zhuldyz –
was joined for a press conference with 14th World Champion GM Vladimir Kramnik; the
former Blitz World Champion and two-time World Cup winner, GM Levon Aronian; and
the strongest woman junior in the world and current Women’s Blitz Champion,
Astana-local IM Bibisara Assaubayeva.
Arjun Erigaisi Shooting for the Stars as Day One of the Satty Zhuldyz Chess Festival 2023 gets underway
300 children and youth of Kazakhstan began playing the Bibisara Assaubayeva Cup this morning, part of the Satty Zhuldyz Chess Festival 2023. Clocks were started at 11:00 local time with a ceremonial first move made by the Minister for Culture and Sport of Kazakhstan.
The Minister awarded local star IM Bibisara Assaubayeva with the Honor of the Master of Sport on behalf of the Republic of Kazakhstan. “It’s a great pleasure to see and support the work of the Bibisara Assaubayeva Foundation and Satty Zhuldyz”, he said, “this is a welcome initiative to help develop the children and youth of Kazakhstan in chess.”
Arjun Erigiasi’s Star Continues to Rise at Day Two of the Satty Zhuldyz Chess Festival 2023
The Bibisara Assaubayeva Cup played out its second day, with some of Kazakhstan’s most promising children and youth players vying for their share of the $33,000 (USD) prize fund – the largest prize fund made available for children and youth in Kazakhstan’s history.
In the U10 tournament, the tournament leaders are currently Omarbek Adlet and Iman Nabiyev, born in 2014 and 2016 respectively. With three rounds left to go, both are in a good position to win the tournament – but a large chasing group just one point behind means the tournament is still up for grabs.
In the Masters, Arjun Erigaisi continued blazing ahead of the competition, finishing with a dominant 9.5 / 11! The 19 year old was undefeated in the entire tournament, with just 3 draws from Grischuk, Keymer and Aronian slowing him down. The Indian prodigy is considered one of the top talents to watch in the world – and this performance is a clear statement of intent from him as he continues his rise to the highest levels of the chess elite.
Russian chess player, grandmaster, 14th of the "classical" world champions in 2000-2006, 14th FIDE world chess champion, winner of the World Cup. Three-time winner of the World Chess Olympiads, winner of the European and World Team Championships.
Levon Aronian
American, formerly Armenian chess player, grandmaster.
Two-time World Cup Winner. Three-time Olympic champion in the Armenian national team. Winner of many prestigious international tournaments, including solo victories in Linares, Wijk aan Zee, Sinquefield Cup, Stavanger.
Boris Gelfand
Israeli, formerly Soviet and Belarusian chess player, grandmaster. Contender for the title of world chess champion.
Alexander Grischuk
Russian chess player, FIDE Grandmaster. Three-time winner of world championships in Blitz, two-time winner of the Chess Olympiad, champion of Russia.
Hou Yifan
Chinese chess player, four-time world champion among women, three-time winner of the women's team world championships as part of the Chinese team.
Javokhir Sindarov
Uzbek chess player, grandmaster. One of the youngest grandmasters in the world (at the age of 12). Champion of Uzbekistan, Olympic Champion in the national team of Uzbekistan, Vice-World Champion among men in the national team of Uzbekistan.
Vincent Keymer
German grandmaster and young chess prodigy who placed second in the 2022 World Rapid Chess Championship behind Magnus Carlsen.
Hayk Martirosyan
Armenian chess player, grandmaster. World Champion among juniors under 16 years old. Bronze medalist at the 2022 Men's World Blitz Championship.
Kateryna Lagno
Russian chess player, grandmaster. Two-time European champion, vice-world champion, three-time world champion in Blitz, world champion in Rapid.
Arjun Erigaisi
Indian chess player, grandmaster. He became a grandmaster at the age of 14. Included in the Top 40 strongest chess players in the world.
Jakhongir Vakhidov
Uzbek chess player, grandmaster. Olympic Champion in the national team of Uzbekistan, Vice-World Champion among men in the national team of Uzbekistan.
Bibisara Assaubayeva
Grandmaster in the women's category, international master in the men's category, one of the strongest female chess players in the world. Leader of women's chess in Kazakhstan. Two-time World Women's Blitz Champion.
Открытый Шахматный турнир "Кубок Бибисары Асаубаевой"