Your move: how chess is promoted in Moscow

Moscow hosted the 16th Moscow Open 2020 Cup of the Russian State Social University, Russia's largest chess tournament attended by more than 2,000 competitors from 38 countries. Mos.ru has found out how Moscow became the chess capital and where the fans of all ages can play chess.

Carlsen, Karjakin and fans

Chess battles have always been popular in Moscow. Since a chess club opened in Moscow in 1930 (to later serve as a prototype of the modern Moscow Chess Federation), the game has become really widespread. Muscovites loved playing chess so much that even the Great Patriotic War did not suspend chess tournaments and championships. After the renowned grandmaster Mikhail Botvinnik had become the first Russian winner of the World Chess Championship held in 1948 at the Pillar Hall of the House of Unions, Moscow became an acclaimed world chess centre. Between 1948 and 1985, it hosted 12 World Championship matches.

According to Alexander Zlochevsky, grandmaster and merited coach of Russia, the game grew even more popular after the legendary World Chess Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin. In 2016, many chess fans watched the battle between the current champion and the Russian challenger. The match including 12 games ended in a 6:6 draw. The Norwegian grandmaster confirmed his title of champion in a tie-break.

'The event was widely covered at the time. After the match, Sergey Karjakin became a star, he appeared in TV shows, advertising, and encouraged kids to start playing chess, as confirmed by all schools and clubs of Moscow, including the major ones such as Petrosyan Club in Bolshaya Dmitrovka Street, the Youth Creativity Centre on Vorobyovy Gory, the Karpov School, and others,' the grandmaster says.

Today, over 53,000 people play chess in Moscow. 1,215 of them are professional players with degrees. They train for competitions guided by 36 coaches, two of them being merited coaches of Russia.

Annually, the city hosts more than a thousand events for both qualified chess players (who play and improve their skills continuously) and chess fans of all ages, regardless of the skill level. Most popular competitions (except for the Moscow Open) include the 'Moscow Blitz' and the Russian national school tournament 'White Rook'. 'Young Stars of Moscow', new blitz tournament for young chess players is growing popular, too.

When school teaches students to think

'There is another programme ― 'Chess at School' ― which is being actively developed. It is very important, since it tells about chess and helps to take your first steps. Later, you can go on and join the club or class,' adds Alexander Zlochevsky.

In 2019, 251 schools joined the project. Children are taught the basic techniques of the game, get assisted in solving problems and analyse outstanding games. Teachers do not try to make world-class chess players out of school children, since the project has other objectives.

'Parents believe chess is good for children. Even if they don’t become great chess players, they will learn to think logically and solve everyday issues. Moscow chess schools also have groups for beginners with the best coaches and experienced teachers. There is also a division of the Moscow Committee for Sport (Moskomsport) focused on the highest sports achievements — the Olympic Training Centre, where the best Moscow chess players Sergey Karjakin, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno and others have been training,' explained Alexander Zlochevsky.

Chess knows no age

According to Alexander Zlochevsky, there are no age restrictions for those who want to take chess lessons. The best age to introduce children to the rules of the game is 5 or 6, but there are exceptions. For example, Savva Vetokhin from Moscow, who became the world champion in his age group at the age of 10, started training when he was 4, and Misha Osipov, who participated in exhibition matches with Anatoly Karpov and Sergey Karjakin, started at the age of 3.

Adults are also welcome to learn to play chess or improve their skills. There are 30 groups in district Fitness and Sports centres offering chess classes for adults.

Fans hold their own competitions, since chess is included in the program of the inter-district spartakiads 'Moscow Courtyard Is Sports Courtyard', 'Sports for All', spartakiads of Moscow old-age pensioners, and workers. Open big competitions take place during city holidays.

'Anytime soon, the Moscow Chess Federation is to open an office on Tverskoi Boulevard to play chess, too,' Alexander Zlochevsky added.

Where to play chess in Moscow

In addition to specialised schools and classes, you can also go in for mind sports in parks. Here are some points of attraction for chess fans.

Chess Club at VDNKh

VDNKh houses a 400 sq m Chess Club next to Pavilion No.206. There are 12 wooden tables with benches inside, boards and chess pieces available for free, and no entrance fee.

The Chess Club is open daily 11:00 am till 10:00 pm.

Blitz Сhess Сlub in Tagansky Park

Free classes, master classes and tournaments are held in the Grand Hall of the Art Centre on the second floor. Find the entrance to the left of the Park gate from Taganskaya Street. The club welcomes children aged 6 to 14. Meetings take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, 05:00 pm till 06:00 pm.

Chess and Draughts Club in Sokolniki Park

Everyone is welcome to play. The Pavilion is open 10:00 am till 10:00 pm. There is a children's chess school in the club, too. From Monday till Friday, there are theoretical classes. On Sundays, 11:00 am till 03:00 pm, children can try their hand at weekly tournaments. The classes are paid.

Chess and Draughts Club in Izmailovsky Park

The Chess and Draughts Club in the Park opened on 1 February. The classes take place in the Art-Park Pavilion in winter and in the Chess and Draughts Pavilion in the warm season. You can the classes for adults and children 6+ on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00 am till 01:00 pm, on Wednesdays, 02:00 pm till 04:00 pm, and on Saturdays, 04:00 pm till 05:00 pm. Admission is free.

Bauman Garden

Come to Bauman Garden to play chess in the 'Inhabited Fence', next to the record store. Amateur day is Thursday, 05:00 pm till 06:00 pm.

Fili Park

Chess players meet in the Park all year round: in Sfera Pavilion behind the summer cinema in winter, and in the Chess House at the end of the central alley in summer. Games are played Monday till Friday, 02:00 pm till 04:00 pm.