On 3 June, Astana hosted the KPMG Fifth Premier League Chess Championship, which continued the chess games season 2017 of KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. We recall that the KPMG Third Premier League Chess Championship opened the games season on 13 May in Bishkek.

“The idea of KPMG Chess Championship came up fourteen years ago primarily to be in direct contact with the market and our customers while being surrounded by the atmosphere of this wise ancient game. By hosting such chess tournaments, we make our contribution to popularisation of chess as an extraordinary game aimed at developing not only of logical thinking but also of the creative potential. For thousands of years, chess never ceases to surprise its adepts with versatility and vast variety of positions, situations, and combinations and fascinate with “poetry” of what is going on in the 64-square board. A person who plays chess will develop an extraordinary ability to think big and out of the box, fantasize, and extend scope of his/her vision stepping beyond standard expectations. The above qualities are critical to competently address business issues,” says Assel Khairova, Managing Partner KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

This year the Premier League Championship in Astana hosted 18 teams which were competing for the first prize and the Cup. The championship was held according to the Swiss system, with the participants playing for 7 rounds, each having 10 minutes to complete a round with an addition of 5 seconds before the end of the round per each move starting from the first one. The referee team headed by the chief referee, the FIDE arbiter, International Master Nurlan Ibrayev monitored the participants to play against time.

Following the Premier League Championship results, the winners were determined in the team and individual classifications. The chess tournament results are as follows: the winning team was Eurasian Resources Group, with the silver medal award going to Samruk-Energo and the bronze medal awarded to Kazakhmys Corporation. In the individual classification, Dessimbek Yakhiin from Eurasian Resources Group became the winner playing on the first chessboard; the second board winner was Yuriy Mazunin from Eurasian Resources Group; while on the third chess board Rolan Kanafin from Kazakhmys Corporation took the first place. Congratulations!

The memorable gifts were presented to all participants of the tournament. The winners of Premier League were awarded diplomas and prizes.

XIV KPMG Premier League Chess Championship in Almaty, which will be held on 17 June, will close the KPMG chess games season 2017.