Two chess tournaments have started at the same time: RSSU Cup among students and RSSU Cup among school champions. The events are being held as a part of the XII International Festival Moscow Open in the Russian State Social University. As usual, young chess players compete in the morning – independently from other participants. They have separate opening and closing ceremonies as well. In 12 years of Festival existence, chess stars, Grandmasters and International Masters have grown up from children Tournament participants.

Students Tournament is being held for the first time in the current format: there is no usual round students tournaments and students-grandmasters. Instead of them, under the auspices of the Russian Students Chess League headed by Natalia Pochinok, more than 70 students will compete according to the Swiss system. The Tournament is a qualification for the World Championships among amateurs.

Beautiful opening ceremony was held at 10 a.m. in the assembly hall of RSSU, where this year chess competitions will also take place.

Competition participants were welcomed by RSSU Rector, Doctor of Economics Natalia Pochinok; 1st vice-president of Moscow Chess Federation Nikita Kim; President of the International School Chess Union, Director of the RSSU Cup Moscow Open 2016 Alexander Kostiev and General Secretary of the European Chess Union Theodoros Tsorbadzoglou.

Natalia Pochinok noted that RSSU Cup Moscow Open is still one of the biggest chess competitions in Europe, talked about Students tournament and Guinness World Record registration procedure, and wished luck to all the participants.

Nikita Kim: “I want you to understand that Moscow Open is not only an intense struggle but also a chess holiday. Take all the best from it and everything you do in life!”

Alexander Kostiev noted that a lot of participants of RSSU Cup Moscow Open grew up and became famous grandmasters, and wished to young competitors to pass the same long and interesting way to the greatest chess title. Festival Director also invited everyone to participate in the biggest chess lesson to be registered in the Guinness World Record, which will be held in the afternoon of 29 January as well as a mass children blitz tournament.

Theodoros Tsorbadzoglou welcomed participants of the tournament from European Chess Union: “I am very happy and proud to be in Moscow at the biggest Chess Festival in Europe again. I can see that the Tournament is growing and developing”. General Secretary thanked EUC, RSSU, MCF, RCF and ISCU for organizing the Tournament and remembered that 2016 is a unique year as it’s a year of Russia in Greece.

RSSU Students Choir, magicians and dancers performed for young chess players and their parents. Straight afterward the opening ceremony children started to compete.

The opening ceremony was broadcasted online in the Internet. You can watch the record here.

School students play in groups up to 9, 11, 13 and 15 years. In total, around 700 players participate in the competitions.

Photos by Galina Popova