A city championship in Togiz Kumalak, a traditional Kazakh intellectual board game, was held in Shymkent as part of the celebrations marking Abai Day.
The men’s tournament, titled “Abai’s Legacy — A National Treasure,” was organized by the Shymkent Department of Physical Culture and Sports together with the Shymkent Togiz Kumalak Federation.
The main objectives of the event were to promote the spiritual legacy of the great Kazakh thinker Abai Kunanbaiuly, highlight national values and further develop Togiz Kumalak as a traditional intellectual sport.
More than 20 athletes took part in the competition, competing in the classical and blitz formats.
Following the championship, the top six athletes secured places at the Kazakhstan National Championship, which will be held in September in the city of Aktau.
The event was attended by representatives of the Shymkent Department of Physical Culture and Sports, Almas Omirbekuly, President of the Shymkent Togiz Kumalak Federation, senior coach Sabit Kaldybekuly, athletes and media representatives.
The championship is aimed at further developing the national intellectual game, promoting Kazakhstan’s cultural and spiritual heritage among young people, and increasing the popularity of Togiz Kumalak as a mass sport.