RUSSIAN CHESS FEDERATION PRESIDENT ANDREY FILATOV HONORED WITH STATE AWARD

Moscow, 16 May 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on awarding the President of the Russian Chess Federation and Vice President of the International Chess Federation Andrey Filatov with a medal of Class 2 Order For Merit to the Fatherland, for merits in development of physical culture and sports, and long-standing commitment and diligent work.

The document has been published on the official Russian government bulletin website.

«I am proud and extremely grateful for the high appreciation of my work, - said Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Filatov. This high award creates new motivation for me to pursue and step up my efforts to actively and consistently promote existing programs and elaborate new projects to support and develop Russian chess and the country’s intellectual potential.»

For reference

Andrey Filatov is President of the Russian Chess Federation and Vice President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). He was elected President of the Russian Chess Federation in 2014. RCF organises the annual nationwide White Rook Children’s Chess Tournament for Schools, the Russian Chess Championship and numerous other chess competitions.

Mr. Filatov is a coach of Russian national chess teams since 2016. In 2012, Filatov initiated the return to Moscow of the World Chess Championship Match. Andrey Filatov is a co-founder of the international program Chess in Museums, within the framework of which major chess tournaments were held in the State Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), the Louvre Museum (Paris), the Russian Museum (St. Petersburg) and in a number of Russian regional museums. He funded a complete renovation of the Chess Museum on Gogolevski Boulevard in Moscow, opened on 25 September 2014.

At the end of 2014, the Sports History and Statistics Fan Club (KLIiSS) recognized Filatov as Sports Manager of the Year. In May 2015, Andrey Filatov was awarded the UNESCO Five Continents Medal for his outstanding contribution to international cooperation in the field of culture and efforts to preserve historical heritage. In March 2016, Andrey Filatov was decorated with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Russian Chess Federation (RCF) is a public non-profit organisation that brings together individuals and chess federation of republics, territories, regions, federal cities, autonomous regions and autonomous areas of the Russian Federation. RCF activities are aimed at the development and popularisation of chess in the Russian Federation. RCF was established on February 15, 1992. The management bodies of the Russian Chess Federation are the Congress and the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation. The Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation is a collegial advisory and consultative body, acting on a voluntary basis.

RCF initiates and implements chess development programmes, including those targeting children, and promotes expansion of the network of chess clubs and sections in the regions. RCF manages individual and team competitions in Russia, organises participation of Russian players in international competitions, promotes Russian chess in the international arena, and develops sporting links with national chess federations, national and international organizations, including FIDE.