Freedom Holding Corp. is the general partner of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation. The company’s primary investment goal is to popularize chess in Kazakhstan and create conductive conditions for nurturing talents among the new generation of chess players.
For Timur Turlov, the founder of Freedom Holding Corp., sponsorship in the chess sport industry is not the first social project that he and his company have undertaken in the country. However, chess holds a special place in Timur's heart, which is why he has also taken on the role of heading the Federation, allowing him to be deeply involved in all its processes.
It is worth noting that chess is under the special control of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan will soon become one of the few countries where chess education will be introduced into the school program. This important step will help identify interest in the game among schoolchildren and further introduce them to the world of competitive chess and tournament achievements.
Timur Turlov's perspective on chess, the Championship in Aktau, and the reasons for sponsoring the Federation are as follows:
“Playing chess is a lifetime journey. It teaches us strategy, emotion management, and the ability to plan several steps ahead. One of the Federation's key missions is to develop these qualities in our youth, recognizing that the most important investment is in people.
As a father of many children myself, I understand well that it is impossible to educate the younger generation by imposing values. The only effective way is through dialogue, example, and play.
We are not only focused on popularizing chess in Kazakhstan, but also we are creating an entire system and opportunities for the development of the younger generation.
The upcoming World Championship, which we will host in Aktau, is an indisputable investment in the future of Kazakhstan. It will foster communication between the Federation and participants from over 50 countries around the world. My team and I are grateful to the International Chess Federation, and personally to its President, Arkady Dvorkovich, for their support in making the Championship possible. We see these collaborative projects as a global partnership that will popularize our sport worldwide and strengthen friendly relations between countries.
In Aktau, we will host an exciting event that will garner public attention. Participants from all over the world will demonstrate, by example, how playing chess can take you to another country, provide opportunities to make new friends, and discover new qualities within yourself. We hope that adults in Kazakhstan will consider the positive impact of chess and make the right decision to enroll their children in chess sections, which are increasingly available in our country. Additionally, we encourage adults themselves to join and learn to play together with their children, as one can become a chess player at any age!
For our company and me personally, witnessing the positive results of our work in people's development is the best Key Performance Indicator (KPI). Supporting such a large-scale project for Freedom Holding Corp. is an opportunity to do something meaningful and realize the potential we see. It allows us to create value for many people”.
