Chess universities for the world champion

Sergey Karjakin performed a simultaneous game in the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the auspices of the President of Russian Federation on December 18

The halls of the Academy were already decorated for the New Year.
Photo by the President’s Academy press office.

The idea to host such an event came up to the mind of two students: Arseniy Erikhanov from the President’s Academy and Daniil Petrischev from the Financial university of the Russian government. The initiative was supported by the Faculty of hospitality and sports industry and the Department of sports and physical culture. The selection tournament for more than 40 students from both universities took place on December 13 in order to choose those who were to play against the world champion.

Sergey Karjakin is evaluating his move.
Photo by the President’s Academy press office.

The participants included the Academy lecturer in sports and champion Vitaly Gurvich, third year student of the management department and the winner of “Student’s League Cup” as well as the Academy vice-champion Grigory Ter-Saakyan, Women’s champion Alexandra Naumova, first year student of the Faculty of business administration Evita Cherepanova, first year student of the Faculty of management Georgy Orlov and a special guest – vice-rector of the Academy, doctor in Economics and chess candidate master Andrey Margolin.

Andrey Margolin and Sergey Karjakin.
Photo by the President’s Academy press office.

The team of the Financial university was represented by IM Oleg Dyatlov, Viktoria Khurhesova, Maria Kutyanina and Tatyana Butuzova.

The speakers at the opening ceremony included Sergey Karjakin, Andrey Margolin, the MRCF executive director Albert Minnullin and the deputy director of the Department of sports, FM Vitaly Fetisov.

Albert Minnullin helps Sergey Karjakin to sign souvenir books for the participants.
Photo by the President’s Academy press office.

The simultaneous game where all the participants were titled not lower than CM along with one IM and one WIM was a real struggle that lasted nearly 4 hours! Four players managed to make a draw.

The ladies gave the world champion a tough fight.
Photo by the President’s Academy press office.

Tatiana Butuzova (Financial university) became the best player of the day. Maria Kutyanina, Oleg Dyatlov from the same university managed to draw their games as well. It is also worth mentioning the Academy vice-rector’s game that also ended in a draw. Evita Cherepanova, Vitaly Gurvich and Alexandra Naumova that represented the Academy showed a very good resistance but lost at the end.