11th RSSU Moscow Open Cup was commenced on Saturday, January 31 in the lecture-halls of the Russian State Social University. The multiple World Champion Anatoly Karpov, the first Deputy Head of the physical culture and sports department of Moscow Nikolay Gulyaev, the first Vice-President of the Moscow Chess Federation Nikita Kim, the European Chess Union Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou (Greece) greeted the participants and guests at the Ceremony Opening. The RSSU Rector Natalia Pochinok received the guests. She was the one to announce the RSSU Moscow Open Cup to be opened.

“Today’s chess festival is the biggest according to the number of participants. This year 1.700 chess players representing 30 countries participate in the tournament. Despite the economic situation, despite the relations between the countries, the chess becomes the language of the world and attracts all smart and talented people,” – Natalia Pochinok marked.

A friendly blitz tournament among the organizers and honored guests was held, when the official part was over. The multiple Champion of Europe and Russia, triple Olympic Champion with the Russian National Team, graduator of the RSSU Valentina Gunina was among them. Valentina played a very interesting game with Anatoly Karpov, in which friendship was the winner, and then the grandmaster helped Natalia Pochinok to achieve an amicable result in the game with Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou.

At the moment three rounds of the children’s RSSU School Champions’ Cup are over. 715 young chess players, representing Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kirgizia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Lithuania, Germany and England, compete for the prize places and the qualification to the School World Championship. 55 chess players managed to gain 3 points in 3 games. A number of titled athletes is among them, including the U9 World Champion Ilya Makoveev (Gelendzhik), medalist of the U11 World Championship Aleksandra Maltsevskaya (Volgograd), U9 European Champion Emilia Zavivaeva (Nizhny Novgorod).

Two rounds are over in the adult competitions, but it’s too early to talk of the leaders. With the only exception of the round-robin student grandmaster tournaments devoted to the memory of Alexander Pochinok.

The U18 World Champion (2011) Samvel Ter-Sahakyan (Armenia) started luckier than others in the Men’s tournament. He managed to win two games. Daniil Dubov and Alexandr Predke (both representing Russia) are half a step behind the leader.

The first line of the chart in the Women’s student grandmaster competitions is occupied by Irene Kharisma Sukandar (Indonesia). She has two victories. Irina Drogovoz (Russia) and Dinara Saduakassova (Kazakhstan) gained 1,5 points each after two games.

31 chess players have a 100% result at the Moscow Open Cup of Russia stage. The ranking favorite, European Champion (2010), Blitz World Vice-Champion Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), two-times Champion of Ukraine, Blitz European Champion (2012) Anton Korobov (Ukraine), winner of the higher league of the Russian Championship Ernesto Inarkiev are among them.

20 chess players managed to gain two victories in the Women’s Cup of Russia Stage, including a number of the ranking favorites: the Junior World Champion Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia), the bronze medalist of the Championship of China Lei Tingjie (China), bronze medalist of the European Championship as a member of the National Team of Poland (2013) Karina Szczepkowska-Horowska.

24 chess players have two points in the Men’s veterans’ cup. Main favorites Evgeny Sveshnikov (Latvia), Evgenij Kalegin and Yuri Balashov (both from Russia) are among them. The third of nine rounds will be played on Monday, Feb 2. The games will start at 16 pm, Moscow time. 

Organizers of the tournament: Department of Physical Culture and Sport of Moscow, Moscomsport Management of Sports and Entertainment Events, Russian State Social University, Moscow Chess Federation.

With support of: Ministry of Sport of Russian Federation, Moscow Government.

Partners: World Chess Federation, Russian Chess Federation, International School Chess Union, Fosagro company, TASS information agency of Russia, Sberbank of Russia, PricewaterhouseCoopers company, Nashe Nasledie Moscow Producer Center and Charitable Foundation.

General Partner: Liga Stavok Bookmaker Company.

Information Partners: Vechernyaya Moskva web-portal, NTV+ TV channel, Sport FM radio.

Place of the Tournament: Russian State Social University, Vilhelm Pik str., 4, Moscow. Metro station: Botanichesky sad.

Additional information is available at: +7 (965) 161 23 33 – Eldar Mukhametov, Moscow Chess Federation press-officer.

Festival’s official website: open.moscowchess.org