World Chess Champion might lose her scholarship in Kazakhstan

Zhansaya Abdumalik. Photo courtesy of megapolis.kz

Zhansaya Abdumalik, 12, who is a tripple World Chess Champion, might lose state scholarship, the girl's dad and coach Daniyar Ashirov told Megapolis. As per Ashirov, they currently have a contract with the Directorate of National Teams. “What is interesting, the scholarship (hers and mine as a coach) was $1,350 in 2008 when Zhansaya won the World Championship for the first time. After the second Championship it was $800. Currently it is $500 for both us us summed up together. What will happen if my daughter wins the Championship for the fourth time?” he said. Zhansaya's father also said that a sponsor paid for the girls participation in her third Championship, while Kazakhstan Chess Federation paid for other participants. Later on the conference after the World Championship Ashirov told the President of the Chess Federation Asset Issekeshev about this. “He was shocked. He said that this will never happen again,” Ashirov said. “Zhansaya got into such level when the costs need to be increased for improvement of results. People say that we earn a lot of money. And what do we earn? We get only one tournament a year. Other chess-players go to the other tournaments,” he said. As per Ashirov, they need to take part in at least five tournaments a year.

Zhansaya Abdumalik, 12, who is a tripple World Chess Champion, might lose state scholarship, the girl's dad and coach Daniyar Ashirov told Megapolis. As per Ashirov, they currently have a contract with the Directorate of National Teams. “What is interesting, the scholarship (hers and mine as a coach) was $1,350 in 2008 when Zhansaya won the World Championship for the first time. After the second Championship it was $800. Currently it is $500 for both us us summed up together. What will happen if my daughter wins the Championship for the fourth time?” he said. Zhansaya's father also said that a sponsor paid for the girls participation in her third Championship, while Kazakhstan Chess Federation paid for other participants. Later on the conference after the World Championship Ashirov told the President of the Chess Federation Asset Issekeshev about this. “He was shocked. He said that this will never happen again,” Ashirov said. “Zhansaya got into such level when the costs need to be increased for improvement of results. People say that we earn a lot of money. And what do we earn? We get only one tournament a year. Other chess-players go to the other tournaments,” he said. As per Ashirov, they need to take part in at least five tournaments a year.

Kazakhstan Kazakh chess championship champion