On July 19th, eve of the International Chess Day, the Moscow Chess Federation invited the FIDE President participate in a series of the events. The day started with a visit to secondary school 1883 in the Yuzhnoe Butovo district of Moscow, one hour drive from the centre. A lot of children and their parents came to meet the FIDE President and Moscow Chess Federation President Vladimir Palikhata, despite summer holidays and a weekend. The honourable guests in their addresses, gave detailed accounts about FIDE history and its main activities. In particular, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov underlined that the Chess in Schools programme is FIDE priority. That is why in all his trips and meetings with the heads of states in various countries, the FIDE President includes the issue of possible inclusion of chess into a respective curriculum of the country of the visit. The Moscow authorities render all necessary support in this matter: it is announced that starting from the next school year, the Moscow schools rating will include a criterion of having chess as a school subject. In this connection, the initiative of the Moscow Chess Federation and a non-commercial partnership "Chess in Schools" on elaboration and implementation of a programme to enable chess become a subject of the 3rd weekly lesson of physical culture in primary schools.


FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and President of Moscow Chess Federation Vladimir Palikhata welcome the participants

It is important to note that besides, the municipal authorities, the Chess in Schools programme will be supported by a charity foundation AFK System, headed by Tatiana Gvilava. It was agreed that this programme will become part of an ambitious project of the foundation "Lift to the future", aimed at the support of talented Russian youngsters, first of all in the sphere of education. Another important partner is "Tolliati Azot" company.


The volunteers are the important team of any project, as well as the teachers and trainers

Another interesting project of the Moscow Chess Federation - Chess boulevards, launched together with the Centre of Physical Culture and Sports of the Moscow Central Administrative District. It was held during warm weather and is meant for everyone. Today the honourable guests were expected at the Strastnoi Boulevard, in the heart of Moscow. Several pavillions where a chess tournament was held, have been placed next to the Sergey Rachmaninov, a great Russian composer, monument.


Chess boulevards


Vladimir Palikhata is checking the chess level of his first deputy Nikita Kim under the control of FIDE President

 
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Vladimir Palikhata addressing the audience

 
The representative of the charity foundation AFK System

 

 
The Presidents showed on their own example what the boulevard chess game is

 
The chess books for the beginners. The veteran presented his gift - a book - to the FIDE President.


Chess in the heart of Moscow

After the city boulevards, the festive programme was continued in the chess club of the Moscow University Law Department. The club was opened last year and has already become an important place on the Moscow chess map, especially after the team of the club was joined by one of the c, which was inaugurated by the Head of the Law Department and the Club, Alexander Korneev.




The Russian top Grandmaster Sergei Karjakin has given a simultaneous game sé ance for this club members


Tatiana Gvilava, President of charity foundation AFK System, actively supports the Chess in Schools programme

The visit to the Moscow University Law Department was followed by a call on the Etude chess school in Otradnoe, the venue of one of the Moscow Cup stages. This club was created 27 years ago and has given a start to many well-known players, one of them being a incumbent European Champion, Evgeni Najer. More than 10 thousand boys and girls learnt chess in this club, and now there are about 750 of them.


Vladimir Palikhata, President of Moscow Chess Federation, IM Alexander Zakharov, Director of Etude chess school, and IM Maxim Orlinkov, Chief Trainer





The Chess day visit is finished by a "live chess" game between the Moscow CF President V. Palikhata and the Rector of the Russian State Social University Natalia Pochinok. The pieces were played by the students and renowned Grandmasters, Anastasia Savina and Yan Nepomniatschiy, performed the roles of consultatns. The game took place at the Russian Expo Centre Cultural Club, in the proximity of a chess pavillion which opened its doors recently.