Superfinal of Russian Chess Championship opens in Kazan

On November 27, Tatarstan State Counsellor Mintimer Shaimiev, Aide to Russian President Igor Levitin, 12-time world champion, international grand master, honoured master of sport of the USSR Anatoly Karpov, President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and President of Russian chess federation Andrey Filatov took part in opening of superfinal of the 67th Russian chess men’s championship and 64th Russian chess women’s championship. The competitions will be held on November 27 – December 8 at Khazine gallery, the Kazan Kremlin.

Welcoming the audience, Mintimer Shaimiev thanked Russian chess federation for honouring the republic with hosting men’s and women’s championships.

The championship is held within the framework of the project “Chess in museums” – the international programme implemented by Russian chess federation and charity foundation of Elena and Gennady Timchenko.

Mintimer Shaimiev noted that Elena and Gennady Timchenko support not only chess events, but different social projects, including reconstruction of the ancient town of Bolgar and the island town of Sviyazhsk.

Andrey Filatov thanked for an opportunity to hold a unique tournament in Kazan, where “chess and art are united”. He also noted that Mintimer Shaimiev has been playing chess for 51 years.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in his turn, also noted that Mintimer Shaimiev is keen on playing chess. “I know about your outstanding results. Also, you are FIDE Senior Adviser. We are now introducing different titles at FIDE, and I think you are the first candidate for having the title of honoured grand master of the International chess federation,” he said.

Director General of charity foundation of Elena and Gennady Timchenko addressed participants of the event with welcoming speech.

Anatoly Karpov spoke about chess traditions of Kazan, and a chess coach Rashid Nezhmetdinov, who was training the Russian chess team for many years.

20 sportsmen will take part in the competitions. Among them are 7-time Russian champion Petr Svidler, and Tatarstan chess player, a multiple Russian champion Alisa Gallyamova. The prize fund is 7 million roubles (5 million roubles for men, and 2 million roubles for women).