Seven Asian countries whose chess federations will receive support in 2026 under the FACI (Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives) project have been identified. These are Jordan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Japan.
In 2024, the Kazakhstan Chess Federation (KazChess/KCF), with financial support from Freedom Holding Corp. and in partnership with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), launched the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) project, a program aimed at supporting chess federations in those Asian countries where chess is not yet sufficiently developed. The first “mentee” countries (listed alphabetically) were Cambodia, Nepal, Oman, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.
Starting in April 2024, Kazakh coaches conducted training sessions for members of youth and adult national teams, along with educational seminars for local coaches, followed by continued online instruction in these countries: Kirill Kuderinov in Sri Lanka, Dmitry Stativkin in Oman, Murtas Kazhgaleyev in Nepal, Evgeny Vladimirov in Tajikistan, and Bakhtiyar Askarov in Cambodia.
As the program received positive feedback from all five federations, and after reviewing applications from 22 countries, the list of FACI project participants for 2025 was expanded to seven: Jordan, Cambodia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.
The project’s results in 2025 included 20 training camps and sessions for national teams (youth, women’s, and men’s) and coaches, along with online preparation for international tournaments; 12 travel grants for young players to participate in the World Cadet Championship; master classes, training sessions, and simultaneous exhibitions held during international tournaments in Oman and Nepal; and the opening of a chess academy in Pakistan.
In particular, Grandmasters (GMs) Alexey Kuzmin and Anton Filippov worked in Jordan, International Master (IM) Rustam Kairbekov in Cambodia, IM Bakhtiyar Askarov in Nepal, FIDE Candidate Master (CM) Dmitry Stativkin in Oman, IM Zhanibek Amanov in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and GM Vitaly Kozyak in Tajikistan.
As a result, players from Sri Lanka performed successfully at the home Asian Under-20 Championship, winning two silver and one bronze medals, while players from Jordan distinguished themselves at the Arab Youth Championship, winning two gold and two silver medals. Eighteen-year-old Ruba Al-Kudah was awarded the title of Woman International Master (WIM).
Today, the list of countries selected for participation in the FACI project in 2026 has been announced: Jordan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Japan.
Starting in April 2024, Kazakh coaches conducted training sessions for members of youth and adult national teams, along with educational seminars for local coaches, followed by continued online instruction in these countries: Kirill Kuderinov in Sri Lanka, Dmitry Stativkin in Oman, Murtas Kazhgaleyev in Nepal, Evgeny Vladimirov in Tajikistan, and Bakhtiyar Askarov in Cambodia.
As the program received positive feedback from all five federations, and after reviewing applications from 22 countries, the list of FACI project participants for 2025 was expanded to seven: Jordan, Cambodia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Sri Lanka.
The project’s results in 2025 included 20 training camps and sessions for national teams (youth, women’s, and men’s) and coaches, along with online preparation for international tournaments; 12 travel grants for young players to participate in the World Cadet Championship; master classes, training sessions, and simultaneous exhibitions held during international tournaments in Oman and Nepal; and the opening of a chess academy in Pakistan.
In particular, Grandmasters (GMs) Alexey Kuzmin and Anton Filippov worked in Jordan, International Master (IM) Rustam Kairbekov in Cambodia, IM Bakhtiyar Askarov in Nepal, FIDE Candidate Master (CM) Dmitry Stativkin in Oman, IM Zhanibek Amanov in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and GM Vitaly Kozyak in Tajikistan.
As a result, players from Sri Lanka performed successfully at the home Asian Under-20 Championship, winning two silver and one bronze medals, while players from Jordan distinguished themselves at the Arab Youth Championship, winning two gold and two silver medals. Eighteen-year-old Ruba Al-Kudah was awarded the title of Woman International Master (WIM).
Today, the list of countries selected for participation in the FACI project in 2026 has been announced: Jordan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Japan.