Анастасия Обухова. Фото: facebook.com/PZSzach
Belarusian chess player Anastasiya Obukhava moved to Poland with her parents in 2022, and in 2025 won the Polish Girls’ Under-20 Championship.
“We came in 2022 because the situation in the country was becoming increasingly difficult and less predictable. My parents wanted a better future for us and understood that Poland is a country where I can achieve more and play chess at a higher level”, Anastasiya told the Onet portal.
Anastasiya’s family lived in Hrodna. In 2022, they moved to Białystok. Anastasiya enrolled in the eighth grade at local School No. 45, where one of Poland’s best chess clubs, MUKS Stoczek, operates. The club’s head noted that even in eighth grade, Anastasiya was already outperforming her rivals.
Anastasiya’s maternal grandparents were Polish, so it was possible to obtain Polish documents quickly. After that, she was able to compete for Poland. At first, her ratings were low due to the limited number of tournaments in Belarus, but they rose rapidly, sometimes by as much as 145 points in a month.
The girl notes that Poland offers more opportunities and has a better chess training system. She no longer attends school and instead studies under an individual plan, devoting more time to training.
At the Polish Women’s Championship held in March, Obukhava finished last, in 10th place, but managed a draw against reigning champion Klaudia Kulon.
“I wanted to give 100% in every game, but I am playing here for the experience. I am grateful that I can play here, but perhaps it happened too early because I am not yet at the level to show myself properly”, Anastasiya said.