Bibisara Assaubayeva has confirmed her intention to play in the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships next year. In response to a subscriber's question, the strong player indicated that the Istanbul venue makes the event an attractive choice for her participation.

The World Rapid and Blitz Championships represent the pinnacle of competition in fast time controls and take place annually during the final week of the year. The 2026 edition will run from December 25 to 30 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Assaubayeva noted that the current year has been exhausting for her, and she had initially considered skipping the end-of-year celebration. The convenient location of the tournament ultimately swayed her decision to compete. She won the Blitz Championship title in 2025.