Serious guys from Colombia
On July 18 Sergey Karjakin performed an online simultaneous game for young Colombian chess players
One could have only dreamed of such a simultaneous game 20 years ago but today, thanks to modern technology one of the strongest grandmasters in the world, the Russian senator, multiple world champion and the Moscow Region Chess Federation president Sergey Karjakin can afford himself to perform a real chess festival for chess amateurs in very remote places of the world.
Our well-known champion has performed a first time ever online chess simultaneous game for talented Colombian juniors. This event is important not only for this country but for all Latin American states. It is symbolic that Sergey Karjakin performed the simultaneous in the country named after the great traveler and discoverer Christopher Columbus.
There were 18 players. Among them were local age group winners and regional championships participants U10, U12 and U14. The game became the first step in bilateral cooperation after the signing of the Memorandum between the Colombian Chess Federation and the Moscow Region Chess Federation. The document was personally signed by the two presidents during a friendly visit to Moscow made by Weymar Munoz. The agreement comprises a wide variety of actions aiming to develop chess in Colombia using Russian coaches and organizers.
Sergey Karjakin mentioned: “I am very glad that distance is not at all an obstacle for this simultaneous game. I am sure that chess collaboration will become stronger every year and in the near future juniors from both countries will be able to play over the board. Now when there is a Memorandum of cooperation between Russia and Colombia, we can prepare a wide range of events, including this game which is the first step towards each other. I wish young Colombian chess players good luck!”
Commenting on the historic simultaneous game Weymar Munoz said: “Sergey Karjakin is a man that keeps his word. Between the signing of the Memorandum and the first real event there was just a little time. Today I witnessed a real chess festival for Colombian juniors. The children are very happy that they have managed to meet such a famous chess player as many learnt to play using Karjakin’s games. Parents also kept a close watch on the way their kids played. We all supported our guys. Thanks for the simultaneous, Sergey!”
Chief arbiter Konstantin Bazarov was satisfied and mentioned: “All the games were sharp, edgy but there was no rules violation. Some games reminded me of some exciting theater play full of exciting twists and turns till the very end. The spectators couldn’t help watching this game with pleasure. This simultaneous game was full of deep ideas and beautiful combinations! Sergey’s opponents this time were very serious. The game lasted for 100 record breaking minutes”.
The event was accompanied by comments in Russian and English.
Russian chess amateurs could enjoy commentary by CM Mikhail Strovskiy:
A Kenyan blogger and a very strong chess player Victor Ngani offered his view on the game in English: