Kazakh chess player Bibisara Assaubayeva has claimed her third world title, winning the gold medal at the 2025 World Blitz Chess Championship in Doha, QazMonitor reports citing the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Assaubayeva scored 11 points out of 15 rounds to finish first in the women’s blitz tournament.
The final standings were as follows:
Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) – 1st place
Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) – 2nd place
Eline Roebers (Netherlands) – 3rd place
Zhu Jiner (China) – 3rd place
With this victory, Assaubayeva earned qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The World Blitz Championship in Doha was held from December 25 to 31. A total of 140 female players from 42 countries took part in the women’s competition, including 132 international masters. Earlier in the championship, Assaubayeva also finished among the top 20 players in the rapid tournament.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Assaubayeva on her victory, noting her historic achievement.
“Bibisara Assaubayeva has entered the history of world chess as an outstanding master and the first representative of Kazakhstan to become a three-time world blitz champion. In recognition of her remarkable achievements at international tournaments and her significant contribution to the development of chess in our country, I have decided to award her the Order of Barys, Second Degree,” the President said.