World School Championship Started, President Putin Sends a Welcome Address to the Participants

In the conference hall of the Grand Hotel Zhemchuzhina, Sochi, the opening ceremony of the World School Championship took place on December 2. 499 players from 30 countries arrived to take part in the competition. The tournament is hosted in Russia for the first time ever.

Alexander Tkachiev, Deputy Executive Director of RCF, read out the welcome address of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The opening ceremony was attended by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, RCF Executive Director Mark Glukhovsky, and ISCU President Alexander Kostiev.

The head of ISCU told about the history of the event and its stars who became leading chess players of their countries 13 years later. Mr. Kostiev said that for many years he looked forward to seeing this event taking place in Russia. Mr. Glukhovsky underscored that the championship in Zhemchuzhina is organized for the young players, and they are the main actors of his show. Mr. Ilyumzhinov called Sochi one of the main chess centers in the world, as this city already hosted the Women's World Championship and Carlsen-Anand World Championship match. FIDE President thanked the Russian Ministry of Sports, Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation, and the RCF President Andrey Filatov for the wonderful initiative and a very high level of preparation to such an important event.

The drawing of lots was taken care of by Chief Arbiter Igor Bolotinsky and the medal winner of the 2016 World Junior Championship in Batumi Margarita Zvereva. The rising star of Russian chess drew Black, therefore all top rated players in each age group will play their first round games as Black. The drawing of lots was followed by a show of magician Daniil Reiven, winner of the Battle of Illusionists in Krasnoyarsk, and Roman Munin, the performer of Moscow Circus named after Yury Nikulin.

The first round is played on December 3, 3:30 pm Moscow time. The RCF website will show the top games live.

The event takes place on December 3-12. Boys and girls are playing in separated age groups under 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17.

The organizers of the event are FIDE, RCF, and International Schools Chess Union.

More information at ruchess.ru/en/

The World Schools Individual Championships starts on December 2, 2016 in Sochi. More than 400 young chess players from 30 countries will take part in the event, for the first time ever hosted in Russia.

The opening ceremony will take place in the concert hall of the Grand Hotel Zhemchuzhina in Sochi and is expected to be attended by a number of VIP guests including FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, minister of physical culture and sport of Krasnodarsky Krai Lyudmila Chernova, Sochi Mayor Alexander Pakhomov, RCF Executive Director Mark Glukhovsky, and representatives of FIDE and ISCU. Performers of the legendary Moscow Circus named after Yury Nikulin will also take part in the ceremony.

In the spring of 2016, the Presidential Board of FIDE unanimously supported the bid made by Russian Chess Federation. The opportunity to organize one of the key children events of the FIDE calendar was contested by a number of other countries, including Turkey, China, and India.

Russian Chess Federation received significant support from Vitaly Mutko, Russian minister of sports, who joined a session of the Presidential Board and assured its members that the Government of Russia will do everything possible for this popular tournament to run smoothly.

The World Schools Chess Championship is held once a year under the aegis of FIDE. The tournament is divided into six age categories, and is open for winners of individual school competitions aged from 7 to 17. The 2015 championship was held in Pattaya (Thailand) and attracted 458 schoolchildren from 35 countries.

Russian teams participate in the World Schools Championship since it was founded in 2000, and Russia usually sends the largest delegation. Young Russian players won many titles in different age groups. Ilya Makoveev was a real triumphant last year, brilliantly winning the U9 tournament. Irina Baraeva, Bilukhadzh Saidov (under 15) and Vsevolod Ovchinnikov (under 17) were among the medal winners last year.

“There are many active projects aiming at developing junior chess in Russia”, says Andrey Filatov, Russian Chess Federation President. “Many regions introduce chess into school curriculum, many chess clubs are revived. The famous school team tournament Belaya Ladya recently became an international event, and this year it will be contested by more than 90 teams including those from China, Israel and other countries. The World Schools Chess Championship held in Sochi will undoubtedly give a new impulse to development of junior chess in Russia, which currently becomes the main center of chess in the world.”

The participants and accompanying persons will be offered various tours around Sochi and to Krasnaya Polyana, Olympic Park, and the Oceanarium.

The organizers of the event are FIDE, RCF, and International Schools Chess Union.