Pakistan is among the many international locations eligible to use for continued help. Picture: ZULFIQAR BAIG
ISLAMABAD:
Following Pakistan’s profitable participation within the Freedom Asian Chess Initiatives (FACI) 2025, purposes have now formally opened for the FACI Undertaking 2026, providing renewed alternatives for Asian chess federations to learn from international-level coaching, grants and institutional help.
The Kazakhstan Chess Federation has introduced the opening of the applying course of for FACI 2026. FACI is a global chess growth undertaking carried out by the Kazakhstan Chess Federation with the help of Freedom Holding Corp., in partnership with FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation (ACF). The initiative goals to advertise the sustainable growth of chess by strengthening nationwide federations, increasing chess schooling and enhancing worldwide cooperation.
In 2025, Pakistan was amongst seven nationwide chess federations chosen for help below FACI, alongside Oman, Cambodia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and Jordan. A complete of twenty-two purposes had been obtained, reflecting sturdy regional curiosity within the programme. Pakistan’s inclusion was extensively seen as a optimistic step in direction of uplifting the nation’s chess ecosystem, notably on the youth and grassroots ranges.
Through the 2025 cycle, FACI organized 20 coaching camps and workshops for nationwide groups and coaches, together with on-line preparation classes for taking part international locations resembling Pakistan. Eight internationally certified coaches, together with grandmasters and worldwide masters, carried out coaching programmes. For Pakistan, Worldwide Grasp Amanov Zhanibek labored with round 25 younger chess gamers, serving to enhance technical expertise and aggressive readiness.
A significant achievement of FACI 2025 was the supply of grants for younger gamers to take part within the FIDE World Cadet Chess Championships held in Almaty, giving rising expertise publicity to top-level worldwide competitors. Taking part international locations, together with Pakistan, additionally recorded prize-winning performances at worldwide tournaments, underlining the impression of structured teaching and preparation.
One other notable final result for Pakistan was the opening of a chess academy, geared toward guaranteeing long-term growth and institutional help for the sport. The undertaking additionally included masterclasses, coaching classes, simultaneous exhibitions, and worldwide tournaments in Oman and Nepal, whereas selling inclusive chess by means of initiatives such because the Infinite Chess programme.
Inspired by the optimistic outcomes of 2025, the organizers have now invited nationwide chess federations to use for FACI 2026.
Federations that participated in FACI 2025, together with Pakistan, are additionally eligible to submit recent purposes for continued help in 2026. Ultimate selections shall be made by the FACI Working Group and the President of the Kazakhstan Chess Federation, in accordance with the FACI Undertaking Laws.
With Pakistan’s encouraging expertise in 2025, chess officers and gamers alike are hopeful that continued participation in FACI will additional strengthen teaching requirements, broaden youth participation and improve the nation’s presence on the worldwide chess stage.
