To launch the “White rook” into space will become a tradition

Star city welcomed the Moscow region school finals on the 14-th of April

The tournament included 21 strongest teams of the Moscow region. The closing ceremony was visited by the Russian senator and many-times world chess champion, the President of the Moscow region chess federation Sergey Karjakin, the chief of the regional public reception office of United Russia Alla Polyakova, the city mayor of Star city Evgeny Barishevsky, the Hero of Russia cosmonaut Nikolay Chub and the project manager of Sergey Karjakin’s chess clubs and MRCF executive director Albert Minullin.

The tournament took place in important days for Star city – the tournament was launched right before the international day of space exploration – on the 11-th of April. It is worth mentioning that for the second year in a row Space and chess are being united in the middle of this spring month. Last year the regional final of the “White rook” took place in Korolyov along with the agreement to open Sergey Karjakin’s chess club in Star city. The event brought up together young chess players, teachers, parents, public persons and heroes of the country.

The audience paid special attention to a team from gymnasium named after E.M. Primakov (Odintsovo district) that won the national finals last three years in a row. This time the team consisted of Dmitry Petukhov, Alexander Fedosov, Dmitry Usov and Tatiana Shimanskaya. It was rather predictable that these students have become the tournament leaders having lost only half a point on all the boards during seven rounds, having won not only the team tournament but also gaining prizes for all the four boards. They are now supposed to win the “White rook” finals in Sochi where “Sirius educational center will soon welcome them.

The gymnasium team captain and Sergey Karjakin’s prize scholar Alexander Fedosov shared his chess ideas:
“You should never underestimate your opponents, it is necessary to get ready for each one of them. Any opponent, even weaker than me, can be well prepared and get a better position where I will be unable to outplay him. That’s why it is necessary to find an opening where I can feel myself free”.

The silver medals were won by an orthodox school “Christmas” from Istra who was represented by Alexey Lototovich, Mikhail Khizhnyakov, Ivan Kabanov and Vera Kiskina. The bronze medals were given to gymnasium number 6 from Shyolkovo that was represented by Dmitry Maltsev, Daniil Rukovichnikov, Ivan Yakhontov and Victoria Prusova.

Sergey Karjakin not only performed a simultaneous exhibition but also mentioned the importance of a personal example in chess education:
“I think that only personal example can teach children to play chess, explain the rules of the game to them and thus try to make a few moves. It is good when children see their parents play against each other. Even if they don’t they know that they can still play with their parents”.

Alla Polyakova paid a special attention to the importance of the final competition for intellectual and personal development:
“This tournament is a real intellectual holiday that pulls up bright ideas and strategic thinking. Chess is a game that unites all ages and all professions”.  

Evgeny Barishevsky compared chess and space, mentioning the symbolism of the tournament venue:
“We have just had a great event in the capital of our manned space exploration. I would like to thank Sergey Karjakin for choosing Star city as a place to open up his chess club. I am sure that the “White rook will become a tradition here”.  

Albert Minullin has terminated the closing ceremony:
“I would like to thank the administration of Star city for the wonderful partnership that we have in organizing the school finals. I do hope that we have set up a tradition and will launch the “White rook” into space every year. To make it we have all the capacities here, including Sergey Karjakin’s chess club in the city”.

The hero of Russia and cosmonaut Nikolay Chub reminded the participants the level of chess importance and universalism:
“Chess is more than just a game. People play it on Earth and in space and even between Earth and space. It forms up the character, thinking habits, develops tactical approach. I would like to wish you victories and achievements in the future. Thank you for choosing chess”.

The event did not only include battles on the chess boards but also cultural activities. All participants had a chance to visit Y.A. Gagarin space center who made his first space flight on April 12-th and also visited the Cosmonaut’s house where they could see the exhibition opened by Gagarin in 1967.

The children were not only able o see big exhibition halls but were able to see the room where Gagarin worked.

The young chess players could learn a lot and feel like real cosmonauts being given a chance to sit in a real space aircraft as well as see the real-size model of International Space station, real space suits that cosmonauts used, the landing module and many other things.

The “White rook” is in Star City. The flight is going on!