KPMG Bishkek LLC, a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms, supported by the Chess Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic, hosted the Second KPMG Chess Premier League Championship for the Kyrgyzstan business community.

The First KPMG Chess Premier League Championship in Kyrgyzstan was held in February 2015 and gathered a 17 teams – fans of this ancient game.

«At the request of the last year tournament participants, certain changes have been made this year to the rules of the tournament: the participants of the Premier League Championship were the amateur chess players with assigned categories and those without categories, while the individual Top League Championship was organised for the professional players. Thus, all participants had equal chances to win in the tournament”, comments Karlygash Kaltayeva, Head of Markets, KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

This year the Premier League Championship witnessed a record number of participants – 20 teams competed for the first prize. The championship was held according to the Swiss system, with the players playing for 7 rounds, each having 15 minutes to complete a round. The participants of the Top League Championship were 8 chess players – masters of sport and candidate masters of Kyrgyzstan; they competed using the robin round system, in accordance with the FIDE rules, with time control of 15 minutes +10 seconds before the end of the game for each move starting from the first one. The referees team headed by international chief referee Damil Toktogonov monitored the participants to play against time.

Following the Premier League Championship results, the winners were determined in the team and individual classifications. The team of JSC Electric Power Stations made a successful debut at the team tournament; it became the first and won the cup; chess players from CJSC Alpha Telecom team were the second and CJSC Bai Tushum Bank team was the third among the best teams. In the individual classification Kanat Umaraliev (CJSC Bai Tushum Bank) became the winner playing on the first chessboard; Chingyz Badachiev (CJSC Alpha Telecom) and Nyyazbek Turumkulov (CJSC Alpha Telecom) were the winners on the second and the third boards, respectively.

In the Top League the master of sports Melis Mamatov (JSC NARYNGIDROENERGOSTROY) won the first prize; Adilet Attokurov (Civil Registry Department) won the silver medal, and Nurgazy Zheenbekov (JSC Electric Power Stations) won the bronze medal.

All participants of the tournaments were presented with souvenirs, while the winners of the Premier League and the Top League were awarded with diplomas and prizes.

“There are a few reasons why KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia has been holding chess tournaments over thirteen years. Firstly, we are positioning ourselves as a socially responsible business and are interested to promote and popularise the game of chess, the strong interest to which we see on the part of both the young people and business community. Secondly, we represent the intellectual business and the chess is an intellectual game. Having pooled our resources and secured the support of the Chess Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic, headed by its President Milan Turpanov, we intend to continue this good tradition and hold similar championships annually” - says Yelena Kim, Audit Partner, KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia has traditionally hosted an annual chess championship which bring together fans of this ancient and wise game for 13 years. This year will feature XIII KPMG Chess Championship for banks and financial institutions in Almaty and IV KPMG Chess Championship in Astana.

About KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services, operating in 155 countries with more than 174,000 people working in member firms around the world.

KPMG has been working in Kazakhstan and Central Asia for nineteen years, and was rated as one of the leading audit and advisory firms in 2010-2014 by Expert Kazakhstan RA. Our essential principle has always been to use the firm’s global intellectual capital, combined with the practical experience of our local professionals. KPMG provides audit services as well as a wide range of advisory services covering tax and legal matters, performance improvement, risk management, transaction support, financing, and restructuring.

In Kazakhstan and Central Asia, KPMG now has offices in Almaty, Astana, Atyrau, and Bishkek with more than 400 active staff members.

For more information please contact:

Karlygash Kaltayeva, Head of Markets, KPMG in Kazakhstan and Central Asia

Tel.: +7 (727) 298 08 98 (ext 61136)

kkaltayeva@kpmg.kz

www.kpmg.kz