Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva posted on Telegram about the negative comments directed at her. The post follows her messages to the President of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Sport. Assaubayeva explains the reason for switching her federation, says she is trying to learn the Kazakh language, and criticizes the response from the Ministry of Sports.

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Bibisara Assaubayeva

Kazakh GM

“You know, as much as I don’t want to admit it, unfortunately, it’s the truth… Throughout my entire career, the hardest thing has been for Kazakhs to be happy for their compatriots and support them.

People write to me that I played for Russia… Yes, when I was a child from 12 to 15 years old, and I returned long before everything started, in 2019.

The reason for changing my sports citizenship — since I have always been a citizen of Kazakhstan — was not about funding, but about my own uncle. He created problems and blocked my development. He worked in the Presidential Administration.

As soon as he was removed from his position, we returned and spoke about it. And people who would have studied the issue even a little bit would not act like cruel idiots!

About the Kazakh language: everyone subscribed to my channel sees my schedule. I’ve been home for a total of 12-15 days since December 1st. Still, during training camps, I studied the language, even though negativity and hate mail make me less willing to do so each time.

And if our ministry can’t do more than say ‘chess isn’t important’ and send bots to my page, then they’re not worth a dime…”

Bibisara Assaubayeva was registered under the Kazakhstan federation. In 2016, she changed her federation to Russia at the age of 12. Bibisara won the 2016 World Cadets Championship in the Under-12 section and became an IM while playing for Russia. In 2019, Assaubayeva changed her federation back to Kazakhstan. Playing for Kazakhstan, she completed all GM norms and won the World Blitz Championship three times.

Kazakh GM Bibisara Assaubayeva recorded a video addressed to the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on June 10. Bibisara described her funding situation, said she hasn’t paid her seconds for the Norway Chess, and asked the president for help. On June 11, Bibisara published a post following the video, criticizing the Ministry of Sports’ reply on the situation.

Credit: Lennart Ootes