Chess Day declared in Ukraine
As a part of the festivities surrounding the recently held Ukrainian Championship, duly won by Anton Korobov, the opening day of the championship was preceded by an official declaration in Ukraine of Chess Day, celebrated on July 20th. Here are pictures by Anna Korol and Nikolai Gavljuk.
The welcoming letter from the Prime Minister of Ukraine Nikolai
Azarov on Chess Day in Ukraine.
Head of the State Agency for Youth and Sport Ravil Safiullin reads the welcoming letter
In the press-conference devoted to the first celebration of the Chess Day in Ukraine the high-level officials took part: Head of the State Agency of Youth and Sport Ravil Safiulin, FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov, President of the National Olympic Committee Sergey Bubka, President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin, GMs Pavel Eljanov and Alexander Moiseenko. The moderator was the UCF Marketing Director Olena Boytsun.
During the day, simuls and activities were organized with the players. The media
had a field day.
They took advantage to interview the young...
... and the not so young.
Pavel Eljanov starts a game with a young challenger
Pavel Eljanov, Olena Boytsun and Zahar Efimenko pose at the evening reception
Margarita Novikova and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
Some of the children kept to the spirit and started a game
The young ten-year-old is nearly 2000 Elo and was giving his opponent a hard time
Alexander Moiseenko took on Kirill Schevchenko in a blindfold game
In the end, the 2700+ player was too strong and won
A cake marked the day, and of course it was decorated accordingly
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