Shymkent's Ordabasy have secured the gold medals of the 2026 Kazakh football championship ahead of schedule: the title was decided after the 29th-round match in which Kairat drew 2:2 with Aktobe, leaving the Almaty side without a mathematical chance of catching the leader with one round remaining, infohub.kz reports.

After 29 matches, Ordabasy have 68 points. Kairat have collected 64, so even a win in the final round will not allow the defending champions to keep the title. The Shymkent club has become out of reach for its closest pursuer, Kris.p.media reported.

The match in Aktobe proved decisive for the title race. The hosts and Kairat ended the encounter in a high-scoring 2:2 draw. The Almaty side needed all three points to keep the race alive until the last round, but they were unable to secure a win.

For Ordabasy, this is the club's second championship in its history. The Shymkent team first won the national title in 2023. In the following two seasons the championship went to Kairat, which has now surrendered first place to its closest rival, Kris.p.media noted.

Ordabasy have thus ended the Almaty club's two-year title run and reclaimed their status as the country's strongest team.

Kairat will finish the current championship with silver medals. The battle for third place is still ongoing, with Astana and Kokshetau's Okzhetpes competing for bronze.

The final, 30th round of the KPL will take place on October 31. Ordabasy will play away to Pavlodar's Irtysh, but the result of that match can no longer affect the distribution of the gold and silver medals.

The Shymkent club's season could end with another significant match: on November 7, Ordabasy will face Kyzylorda's Kaisar in the final of the Kazakhstan Cup. The team thus has a chance to finish the year with the two main domestic trophies.

In August 2026, the club completed its transfer under the management of businessman Shakhmurat Mutalip, owner of Integra Construction KZ. At the same time, Darkhan Kyzaibayev, who had previously served as club president, was appointed chairman of the board of directors. Zhasulan Barmankulov became the new president.

The team won gold in its very first year under the new management.