On February 7, the culmination of the children’s tournament of the Moscow Open took place in the Russian State Social University building; specifically, the final Round 9 and the Closing Ceremony of the RSSU School Champions’ Cup. The nine days of intense struggle flew by as one moment, and the time tally the score has come.

The Ceremony started with the show of the specially prepared documentary film on chess, and then the spectators of the Ceremony were able to watch the performance by the RSSU dance group.

The dignitaries and festival organizers entered the scene to award the winners and the medalists of the tournament. The young athletes were congratulated by: Igor Pavlov, deputy head of the Moscow Department of Education; Valery Telichenko, chairman of Moscow State University of Civil Engineering; Natalia Pochinok, rector of RSSU; Nikita Kim, vice-president of the Moscow Chess Federation; Alexander Kostiev, director of the RSSU Cup – Moscow Open 2015; Oleg Zhuravsky, honorary president of Liga Stavok Bookmaker company; Boris Kutin, chairman of FIDE Competitions’ Commission; Kevin O’Connell, chairman of the FIDE Chess in School Commission; and Jesper Hall, chairman of ECU Chess and Education Commission.

Before the festival was announced closed, Natalia Pochinok congratulated the participants and their parents on the end of the chess festival.

“Today we sum up the bright struggle, interesting meetings and games. I’d like to say, the today’s pedestal represents the friendly team of the future champions.

It’s a great day today – February 7, 2015. Exactly a year ago the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi were announced open. I really hope, the chess will be included into the number of the Olympic kinds of sport very soon, and I wish kids to believe it.

I’d like to thank all the young chess players, their parents and coaches for having come from different parts of Russia, different countries, and invite all of you to participate in the traditional 12th International RSSU Moscow Open Cup next year.

You have to remember, the chess is the game of smart and talented people, game of the future winners,” - the RSSU Rector said.

While awarding the U9 Boys, Oleg Zhuravsky congratulated the winner of the tournament Ilya Makoveev, whose personal sponsor is the Liga Stavok bookmaker company. He declared the young athlete would be awarded with a special prize.

After the Ceremony Closing the correspondent of the Moscow Open official website Eteri Kublashvili managed to talk to Ilya Makoveev for a while.

- Ilya, congrats on the serious win! How was this tournament for you?

- Thank you. It was ok. I won several games in the beginning, and then I lost in the Round 4. And after that I won the rest of the games.

- Before the last round you were following your opponent with one point less. Did you feel nervous before the game?

- No, I wasn’t nervous too much.

- What was happening on the board in the decisive Round 9?

- I was playing with the black. I won a pawn, then I had four unnecessary pawns, and as a result I won.

- Did you come here with your coach?

- My coach is the international master Yaroslav Prizant. But I came here with my dad.

- Where do you plan to play later?

- I will go to the U11 Championship of Russia.

Oleg Zhuravsky and Ilya Makoveev

- Do you have chess idols?

- Not anyone exact. All strong chess players, I like World Champions.

- Who did you support in the game between Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand?

- Anand.

- When did you start to play chess?

- Since I was five.

- What else are you keen on in addition to the chess?

- I swim in the pool, and play tennis as well.

- Ilya, thanks you for your answers and good luck at the Championship of Russia!

The children’s chess festival in Moscow is over. However, the main games of the adult tournament are still waiting for us. Follow the finish of the RSSU Moscow Open Cup on the official website of the festival.

Ceremony Closing photos by Galina Popova.