In Shymkent, the best programmers of Central Asia were determined: results of the Central Asia Programming Championship 2026

As part of the international digital forum Digital Qazaqstan 2026 in Shymkent, the Central Asia Programming Championship 2026 took place, bringing together top participants aged 20 and older from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Competitors vied for 3 million tenge and the opportunity to showcase their skills before international experts.

The international competition allowed each participant to demonstrate their algorithmic and analytical skills on international-level problems in the ICPC format. After an online selection round on February 28, the finals were held in an offline format, where the region's best developers gathered in a single venue for the decisive stage.

According to the final results:

First place was taken by Farhod Khakimyon from Tajikistan

Second place was taken by Aibar Kuanyshbay from Kazakhstan

Third place — Altair Ashurov from Kazakhstan. 

The total prize fund of 3 million tenge was distributed as follows: 1.5 million for first place, 1 million for second, and 500,000 for third. 

Special attention this year was paid to the expert program. Representatives of international technology companies participated in the finals, including Meta senior developer Bakhytzhan Bayzhikenov, CEO of AGI Lab and Khan Group Zhomart Sadykov, VP for Talent at Higgsfield AI Dalida Yerkulieva, Google senior developer Aman Utemuratov, Booking developer Narikbi Maksut, and TON Core representative Alexander Kirsanov. Experts evaluated participants' solutions, shared experience, and provided career advice for opportunities in global companies.

Adina Magavina, Director of Alem.ai Foundation
The Central Asia Programming Championship demonstrated an incredible level of preparation among participants and became a true platform for exchanging experience among the region's best IT talents. We are proud to have brought together so many strong specialists and created a space for professional dialogue with international experts.

Organizers note that the championship was not only an intellectual event but also an effective platform for developing the regional IT community. Participants had the opportunity to test their competencies, attract the attention of international companies, and establish professional contacts that could serve as a foundation for employment and participation in global technology projects.

Source: gov.kz