Championship of the Republic of Belarus in Chinese Chess Xiangqi among Students

On March 14, 2026, the sixth Championship of the Republic of Belarus in Chinese chess xiangqi among students was held at the Belarus State Economic University. Cups, prizes, and medals were awarded across various age categories among schoolboys, schoolgirls, and university students. Approximately sixty participants took part in the competition.

The objective of the tournament was to attract the attention of a wide range of young learners to the values of China’s intangible cultural heritage, to develop and promote the game of xiangqi in the Republic of Belarus, and to foster interest in the Chinese language and culture among the younger generation through engagement with the game.

The tournament was organized with the support of the Confucius Classroom of the Republican Confucius Institute of Sinology at Belarusian State University, operating at BSEU. Since 2018, the Xiangqi Club has been one of the key areas of activity of the Confucius Classroom.

The event was co-organized in partnership with the National Xiangqi Federation, which provided game equipment, developed the tournament format, and formed the referee panel. The majority of participants are members of xiangqi clubs, also coached by federation trainers.

The winner of the overall championship among students is 17-year-old schoolboy Alexey Budkevich, who has claimed first place at the republican tournament held at BSEU for five consecutive years. The overall female champion is 11-year-old Anastasia Budkevich.

Xiangqi is the most popular intellectual game in modern China. In the context of the rapid development of the Chinese economy and the growing interest in China and its culture in the West, xiangqi is steadily gaining recognition within the cultural space of Western countries alongside traditional chess. The game not only develops intellectual abilities but also serves as an effective means of exploring Chinese culture, fostering intercultural communication, and strengthening economic relations with Chinese partners.

Winners and Prize-Winners of the 6th Belarusian Xiangqi Championship among Students (BSEU, March 14, 2026):

Girls under 8:

Miroslava Gurshtynovich,
Daria Shimko,
Arina Ostrovskaya.

Girls under 10:

Valeria Vereskovskaya,
Sofia Andreychikova,
Varvara Urban.

Girls under 12:

Anastasia Budkevich,
Margarita Kozlova,
Anastasia Bakanova.

Girls under 18:

Anna Budkevich,
Selina Budkevich,
Marina Yakovleva.

Boys under 8:

Artyom Drozd,
Dmitry Zhuchkovsky,
Nikolai Gaidukov.

Boys under 10: