The press-conference, devoted to the 14th International RSSU Cup 2018 Moscow Open was held January 23 in the Russia Today multimedia center.

First deputy of the Head of the sport and tourism department of Moscow Alexey Kondarantsev, first deputy of the Director General of the Management of sports and entertainment events of Moscow Alexander Buzdakov, Moscow Chess Federation Chairman  Vladimir Palikhata, RSSU Rector, Doctor of Economics, assistant professor, member of the Russian Association for the Advancement of Science Natalya Pochinok, founder of the Sozvezdie Dobra charity foundation, first Vice-President of the Liga Stavok boomaker company Olga Zhuravskaya took part in the event.

Alexey Kondarantsev expressed confidence that this edition of the festival will be as usually held at the highest possible level in the hospitable RSSU. He marked, the Moscow Open is growing and developing from year to year that provides it with the status of one of the major sports events of the capital.

Natalya Pichinok was speaking of the development of the student chess and innovations of the present festival: “We are always doing our best to widen the possibilities for all chess fans. This year we will run two tournaments devoted to the memory of people who contributed much into the progress of chess as in Moscow so as in the whole country – School Champions’ Cup – Zhuravsky Memorial and 2018 Moscow Grand Prix in chess problems – Pochinok Memorial. The Chess in Educational System international conference will become one of the most important parts of the program of our tournament. The results of this conference will serve as the recommendation for ministries and departments of chess education.” Natalya Borisovna also thanked the permanent sponsors of the tournament – the Liga Stavok bookmaker company and the Sozvezdie Dobra charity foundation as well as Olga Zhuravskaya personally.

Founder of the Sozvezdie Dobra charity foundation, first Vice-President of the Liga Stavok bookmaker company Olga Zhuravskaya was speaking of the activity of the foundation, marked achievements gained by its guardians, including three young chess players: Misha Osipov, Ilya Makoveev and Elizaveta Solozhenkina. All of them will take part in the festival.  She also mentioned that the Liga Stavok will continue to support chess events and wished beautiful play and victory to all of the participants.

Vladimir Palikhata expressed gratitude to all the tournament partners and marked the constantly growing interest to chess: “The Moscow Open Tournament is a major chess event for the city of Moscow. This year we have received a record number of applications – more than 2,000 entries from 40 countries of the world. It’s worth mentioning, high results shown by the athletes from Moscow as well as the system work of the Moscow Chess Federation contributed into the constant growth of interest to chess and the tournament in general,” – the Head of the Moscow Chess Federation stressed.

The press-conference ended with the draw of colors for the first round. Natalya Pochinok and tournament director Artem Akhmetov took part in it. Natalya Borisovna pulled out a black knight. It means, the ranking favorites will play with black in the first round of the tournament.

It should be added, the first games of the festival will be played this Friday, January 26. The participants of the School Champions’ RSSU Cup will be the first to enter the struggle.

More photos.