On Friday, Jan 30 the territory of the Russian State Social University was full of children’s voices and instructions, pronounced by the coaches: the RSSU School Champions’ Cup started. This tournament has a special place at the Moscow Open festival: kids are playing in the morning, while adults are playing in the evening. They have their own Ceremony Opening and Ceremony Closing. Chess stars, grandmasters and international masters have grown during 11 years of the festival’s existence.
The colorful Ceremony Opening was held at 10 am in the RSSU assembly hall. The RSSU Rector Natalia Pochinok, Prefect of the Moscow Northeastern administrative district Valery Vinogradov, European Chess Union Secretary General Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou and the International School Chess Union President, Director of the Moscow Open 2015, RSSU Cup Alexander Kostiev welcomed kids.
Natalia Pochinok noted that a real chess festival is waiting for all of us in the nearest days. 1.800 chess players representing 30 countries of the world will gather together in the RSSU. Natalia Borisovna is sure, the chess discipline must be included into the educational program of schools and colleges.
“We are proud to welcome so many children in the RSSU – university, loved by many Moscow citizens. Chess is a unique kind of sport. It helps to find one’s own course of life, contributes into development of smart and decent people,” – Valery Vinogradov marked in his welcoming speech.
Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou welcomed the participants of the tournament on behalf of the European Chess Union. “I’m very glad to be in Moscow and to visit the biggest in Europe chess festival again. The RSSU Moscow Open has bright future, and we will support it in the future.”
Alexander Kostiev noted that many participants of the tournaments held within the frames of the RSSU Moscow Open have grown up and became famous grandmasters. He reminded that the winners will go to the World School Championship, organized in Thailand this year.
Funny drummers, circus performers with the nicest poodles, beautiful members of the RSSU cheerleaders’ team, ballet dancers, dressed as chess figures showed interesting tricks to kids, their parents and coaches. The performance of the illusionist became the zest of the program. He took out the rabbit from the hat, appeared from nowhere, and invited kids to help him with his tricks.
Soon after the Ceremony Opening was over, children and adults hurried up to the neighbor building, where referees and journalists had been already waiting for them. Young chess players will compete in the age groups U9, 11, 13 and 15, and girls – U11, 13 and 15. The total number of participants is more than 700. We can find familiar names among the claimants to the prizes: Ilia Makoveev, having the Liga Stavok bookmaking company as his personal sponsor. The company is also the general partner of the festival. Danila Pavlov, Kirill Shubin, Taisia Tereshechkina, Alexandra Maltsevskaya, Anastasia Zotova and many others.
Kids feel elated before the start of the competitions, they are ready to the start of interesting struggle. Though, often children can’t keep themselves from crying after offensive losses, but the next day they start to play as if nothing had happened.
Gentlemen will play in the audiences, and the ladies – in the greenhouse, as it should be. Experienced referees are always ready to answer the questions and remind the chess rules, as well as to help delicately in the arguable situations. Parents and coaches will wait in the lobby, chatting and discussing the chess situation in their regions.
As usually, chess print materials and computer programs will be sold at the festival. One can easily sit in the café with a book of selected chess games played by Mikhail Tal or a new number of the 64 – Chess Review magazine. However, parents can’t read in the first days of the tournament: they are too worried for their kids and literally guard them at the doors.
Soon the festival will run more smoothly, the prestart nervousness will calm down, the first leaders will be defined… Little by little the tournament will head to the finish line, the emotions will be high again, and we will find out the names of the winners. And in the meanwhile, place your bets, ladies and gentlemen!
Text and photos by Eteri Kublashvili