A chess palace for 500 people may be built in New Tashkent

2 hours ago

A modern chess palace with a playing hall for 500 people, a dormitory, and sports grounds may be built in New Tashkent. This proposal was voiced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting with members of the national chess and para-chess teams of Uzbekistan at the Kuksaroy residence.

The initiative was announced following another success by Uzbek chess players. Four years ago, the national team won the Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, for the first time. In 2024, the team finished third in Budapest, and today in Samarkand, they took gold once again.

The head of state emphasized that such results were the outcome of systematic work. According to him, there were many talented chess players in the country before, but there was no system capable of supporting and uniting them. Following a decision made in 2018, schools began developing chess instruction, coach training, and club activities.

To further develop the training system, three regional branches of the Tashkent International Chess Academy will be opened in the Samarkand, Khorezm, and Fergana regions. The academy itself will also organize training for top-tier coaches.

Another support measure concerns young chess players. The state will cover half of the tuition costs at private chess clubs for athletes who have scored more than 1,500 points in the FIDE rating.

In addition, Uzbekistan plans to regularly host international tournaments under the national brand O‘zbekiston Grand chess. This will give local chess players the opportunity to play against strong opponents in their home country.

Special attention will be paid to scouting young talent. In regions, districts, and mahallas, plans are underway to identify capable children earlier, assign them to strong coaches, and create conditions for their regular participation in international tournaments. A separate system for the development of women's chess and para-chess will also be established.

Over the past ten years, 17 Uzbek chess players, including five women, have received the title of International Grandmaster. The President noted that the current champions are still very young, and hundreds and thousands of talented children are growing up right behind them.

Previously, the country was set the task of entering the top ten strongest countries in the world according to the FIDE rating. According to Mirziyoyev, this goal has already been achieved. He formulated the next task more broadly — to turn New Uzbekistan not only into a country of Olympic champions, but also into a global center of chess.