Bibisara Assaubayeva played an Exhibition Match with Alexandra Kosteniuk in Weissenhaus during the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026. The GMs played 4 games of Chess960 with Classical time control, and Bibisara won with a score of 2.5-1.5.

Assaubayeva commented on the match on her Instagram account:

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Kazakh GM

“I beat the 12th World Champion, A. Kosteniuk, in an exhibition match! It’s always nice to win, especially if it guarantees participation in the next World Freestyle Chess Championship, in Weissenhaus 2027.

Thank you, Freestyle Chess for an Amazing Tournament! Looking forward to come back next year!”

With this victory, Bibisara qualified to the FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2027.

The first FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship took place in Weissenhaus, Germany from February 13 to 15. Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva (2497) was the only female player to compete in the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour in Las Vegas. She finished in 13th-16th place, earning a $7,500 prize.

Credit: Lennart Ootes/Freestyle Chess