There are no limits for friendship
On August 23 MRCF friends team will carry on its first match against their rivals from Zimbabwe
2025 summer was a busy time for different international visits, tournaments and friendship matches where players from the Moscow Region took part. Today MRCF friends team will play a friendly match from Zimbabwe setting up a good start for international chess collaboration with this African country.
Only few people know a bit about Zimbabwe, however next year our countries are celebrating the 45-th anniversary of bilateral foreign relations. During all these years many specialists from this Eastern African country carried out their education in Russia. Both countries have been strengthening their relations in all directions in recent years.
Russian senator, multiple world champion and the MRCF president Sergey Karjakin said: “The Moscow Region Chess Federation is confident in realizing its project “Chess diplomacy in Africa” and every month we are setting up international collaboration with new African states. This match is just the first step towards chess cooperation in different fields. Both federations are in the process of preparing a Memorandum of cooperation which will lay a firm base to increase the level of chess skills of players and coaches from Zimbabwe. It will allow players from both countries to meet more often, play and share their experience. I wish you success. There can not be any losers in such a tournament as an essential part of it is real chess friendship!”
The MRCF executive director Albert Minnullin pointed out: This match is a sort of a premiere of a new format where the MRCF is represented by a team of friends/ It was formed up not a long time ago and unites chess professionals and amateurs of different ages. These players have a very different level however they are all united by one chess passion. Many of them kept a close watch on the friendly matches of the chess club of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs against teams from Togo and Mozambique and wanted to take part in such an event. Such a sincere wish could not be ignored! It is rather symbolic that a friendly matched is played by friends of the Federation”.
Zimbabwe Chess Federation president Mapingire Todd pointed out: “The match was prepared in a very short time but I can hardly remember such a big number of those who wanted to participate. Everyone I talked to and to whom I called are simply on fire to play. For many of these people Russia that is far away is a leading chess country and to play against its representatives is a great opportunity to test their chess skills in practice. We were very keen on watching your youth national team in Colombia and we can surely say that the Russian team showed no mercy fighting other opponents! Total domination! I am impatient to play in such a friendly match and will support my mates!”
The Russian audience will be able to see comments by CM Mikhail Strovsky.
Следить за перипетиями борьбы можно будет здесь.