On March 29, 2025, the Belarus State Economic University hosted the fifth—anniversary—Belarus National Students Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) Championship. Cups, prizes, and medals were awarded across various age categories for schoolboys, schoolgirls, and university students.
Approximately 60 participants competed, including four citizens of the People’s Republic of China.
The tournament aimed to:
• Draw attention to the values of China’s intangible cultural heritage among students.
• Promote and develop xiangqi in Belarus.
• Foster youth interest in Chinese language and culture through the game.
The event was organized with the support of the Confucius Classroom at BSEU, part of the Republican Institute of Chinese Studies named after Confucius (BSU). Since 2018, the Xiangqi Club has been a flagship initiative of the Confucius Classroom.
The National Xiangqi Federation of Belarus partnered in organizing the championship, providing equipment, designing the tournament system, and forming the judging panel. Most participants were members of xiangqi clubs coached by the federation.
Winners:
• University category: Dan Jiarui (24, BSU, China).
• School categories: Brother and sister Alexey Budkevich (16, Minsk School 76) and Anna Budkevich (12, same school) claimed the top spots.
This championship marked the first event of 2025 celebrating 10 years of xiangqi in Belarus, which began in 2015 with a small group of enthusiasts. Over the decade, the Belarus Xiangqi Federation grew into the largest outside Asia, uniting hundreds of players.
Xiangqi, the most popular intellectual game in modern China, is gaining global traction alongside Western chess, fueled by China’s economic rise and cultural influence. Beyond sharpening minds, xiangqi serves as a bridge to Chinese culture, fostering cross-cultural ties and economic partnerships.
Winners & Podium Finishers
5th Belarus Students Xiangqi Championship (BSEU, March 29, 2025)
Girls (U8):
- Sofiya Gotchits
- Anna Grinevich
- Miroslava Gurshtynovich
Girls (U10): - Anastasiya Budkevich
- Eva Chernukho
- Anastasiya Azarchik
Girls (U12): - Anastasiya Bakanova
- Selina Budkevich
- Margarita Kozlova
Girls (U18): - Anna Budkevich
- Marina Yakovleva
- Margarita Zherko
Boys (U8): - Yegor Paramonov
- Timofey Shiman
- Denis Denishkevich
Boys (U10): - Maksim Yatsko
- Dmitry Fedorov
- Mikhail Panasik
Boys (U12): - Fyodor Titov
- Ilya Tsybulko
- Kirill Kulikovsky
Boys (U18): - Alexey Budkevich
- Yegor Chubin
- Fyodor Kryuchatov
University Students: - Dan Jiarui
- Shen Yanchang
- Robert Nerisyan
