Togyz Kumalak World Championship to be held in Almaty

ALMATY. KAZINFORM - April 13-17 Almaty will host III world championship in togyz kumalak which will bring together the best athletes from 23 countries.

"Kazakhstan will be represented by eight participants. Togyz kumalak was included in the program of global intellectual festivals and competitions held in London in 2006. Nowadays, international competitions for the national Kazakh game are held on a regular basis in many countries in Europe and Asia," said the world-class athlete Serik Aktayev. "Togyz Kumalak World Championship was first held in 2010 in Astana. The second championship took place in 2012 in Pardubice (Czech Republic) and that the third will be held in Almaty this year. It is worth noting that the fourth tournament is planned to be carried out in Astana in 2017 prior to "Expo-2017". NOTE: Togyz Kumalak ("nine pebbles") is the Kazakh name of a mancala game. The number '9' has is of high significance and considered auspicious in the folk beliefs and mythology of Kazakhs.