Saturday, Feb 6 the Ceremony Closing of the competitions for school champions and students was held in the RSSU assembly hall. The competitions were run during 9 days within the frames of the 2016 Moscow Open festival.

Director of the Department of the state policy in the sphere of education of children and youth of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Alexander Stradze, the RSSU Rector, Doctor of economic sciences, President of the National Student Chess League Natalia Pochinok and President of the International School Chess Union, Director of the 2016 Moscow Open RSSU Cup Alexander Kostiev took part in the ceremony. They addressed the audience with the speeches.

Alexander Stradze: “The RSSU Cup has won respect and recognition in the course of many years of its existence. The tournament is great and successful, and besides many famous chess players came out of this tournament. The most important is that today the most talented and gifted kids have gathered in this hall. No doubt, in the future, they will find themselves and receive interesting professions, create all conditions in order our country can develop and flourish. As chess is a very interesting and highly intelligent game. I suppose, every person in this or that way played chess: somebody was more successful, somebody not, but if we speak about the general stats, we should admit that all of the brightest people of the world can play chess.

Let me express my gratitude to all of the organizers of this tournament, the RSSU Rector Natalia Pochinok, all the participants of the children’s competition and their parents. Thank you for your talented kinds! Let me assure you that the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation will make every effort to provide our young stars with the conditions allowing them to develop their talent and providing every kid with the chance to find himself.

I congratulate you on the end of the tournament and wish you all he best!”

Natalia Pochinok: “I am happy that today we announce the results of the tournaments held within the frames of the RSSU Cup. Here we opened the new stars, and, I’m sure, year by year they will develop and will clinch higher and higher places.

I would like to mention a very important step: today we announce the result of the first ever tournament within the frames of the Student Chess League, and it’s very important because the development of chess in the higher schools of Russia is a powerful vector. The university can as unite students around this unique kind of sport, so as prepare, create conditions for the development of chess in schools and pre-school institutions. They can also assist in the creation of chess clubs.

Connection with future employers can be built exactly through such student chess clubs, that’s why we want chess to appear in all of the key universities of the country. The Student Chess League will do everything possible to make it come true.

First of all, I’d like to congratulate the students – participants of our tournament, and I think that next year probably we will be able to arrange the biggest ever in the number of the students – chess players tournament that will be held within the frames of the XIII International RSSU Cup, Moscow Open.

I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to our sponsors. If not they, nothing would happen. In particular, to the Liga Stavok bookmaker company that has been providing us with huge support for the second year and promotes chess in Russia. We have received preliminary confirmation that the next Moscow Open will be also supported by our wonderful sponsor.”

Alexander Kostiev: “I congratulate all the participants, winners and medalists. It’s a very pleasant event for me. My ancient dream to organize mass tournaments as for schoolchildren so as for students has come true. 700 kids are playing in the Mosow Open, and I’m sure in a couple of years 700 students will participate in the RSSU Cup.

As 2016 is the year of Russia in Greece and vice versa, the prizes for the winners are exactly what is needed: children will go to the European School Chess Championships in Greece, and students will go to Greece for the World Amateur Chess Championships. I’m sure we will meet most of you next year. Best of luck in chess and in life!”

After the official part of the ceremony was over, Alexander Stradze, Natalia Pochinok and Alexander Kostiev awarded all winners and medalists with the honorable trophies.

Photos by Galina Popova.