Saida Mirziyoyeva Presents Awards to Zakovat-Gambit Winners
Uzbekistan
Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, attended the awards ceremony for the winners of the fifth Zakovat-Gambit chess tournament. The competition, whose final rounds took place in Tashkent on October 29–30, registered 5,831 participants — almost twice as many as a year earlier.
The awards ceremony was held on October 30. Reflecting on the tournament, Mirziyoyeva said the growing number of participants demonstrated young people’s interest in knowledge and their desire to develop their intellectual abilities. The registered players included 633 women and girls, a record figure in the history of the competition.
“A country’s intellectual potential is determined not only by the achievements of its talented people, but also by how broad the opportunities are for everyone to develop their abilities,” Mirziyoyeva wrote on social media.
She noted that Uzbekistan had already achieved significant success on the international chess stage. At the same time, she said, building an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to realize their abilities is equally important. Mirziyoyeva highlighted the role of the Zakovat project in this process. In her view, it does more than identify talented participants: it helps foster a culture of thinking, independent judgment and the ability to make well-considered decisions.
The fifth tournament was held in several stages. For the first time, in-person regional qualifying competitions were organized in all 14 regions of Uzbekistan. An additional online qualifying round took place on Chess.com. The semi-final was held on October 28, followed by the final rounds in Tashkent on October 29 and 30.
Players were divided into five groups according to their ratings and levels of preparation. The tournament’s total prize fund amounted to 620 million soums. The format brought together chess players with different levels of experience, from amateurs to seasoned competitors, while widening the geographical reach of the event.
Mirziyoyeva said the significance of such initiatives goes beyond identifying winners. They help young people develop analytical skills, independent thinking and the ability to make responsible choices. A country’s future depends not only on the knowledge its younger generation acquires, but also on how well it can apply that knowledge, assess information and make decisions independently. The event also reflects the growing appeal of chess across Uzbekistan.
“A country’s intellectual potential is determined not only by the achievements of its talented people, but also by how broad the opportunities are for everyone to develop their abilities,” Mirziyoyeva wrote on social media.
She noted that Uzbekistan had already achieved significant success on the international chess stage. At the same time, she said, building an environment in which everyone has the opportunity to realize their abilities is equally important. Mirziyoyeva highlighted the role of the Zakovat project in this process. In her view, it does more than identify talented participants: it helps foster a culture of thinking, independent judgment and the ability to make well-considered decisions.
The fifth tournament was held in several stages. For the first time, in-person regional qualifying competitions were organized in all 14 regions of Uzbekistan. An additional online qualifying round took place on Chess.com. The semi-final was held on October 28, followed by the final rounds in Tashkent on October 29 and 30.
Players were divided into five groups according to their ratings and levels of preparation. The tournament’s total prize fund amounted to 620 million soums. The format brought together chess players with different levels of experience, from amateurs to seasoned competitors, while widening the geographical reach of the event.
Mirziyoyeva said the significance of such initiatives goes beyond identifying winners. They help young people develop analytical skills, independent thinking and the ability to make responsible choices. A country’s future depends not only on the knowledge its younger generation acquires, but also on how well it can apply that knowledge, assess information and make decisions independently. The event also reflects the growing appeal of chess across Uzbekistan.
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