3 September 2018

Simuls and Walks by Waterside

A free day at the Superfinals reported by Eteri Kublashvili

Traditionally, Superfinals are complemented by a social program, where celebrated grandmasters play simultaneous exhibitions against young chess players and veterans. This year, the event took place in the Sports Palace Magnezit. The simul was attended by 92 chess players of different ages and from different cities of the Chelyabinsk Region. The simuls were given by grandmasters Mikhail Kobalia, Alexander Morozevich, Sergei Rublevsky, Pavel Tregubov and Dmitry Kryavkin.

The event’s special guest was Igor Baradachev, Deputy General Director of the Elena and Gennady Timchenko Charitable Foundation, who shared some of his impressions:

- The Russian Chess Federation at the Timchenko Foundation have organised a day for social events at large tournaments for many years. These simuls are always popular with children and veterans. This time, around 100 players came to do fight against grandmasters not only from Satka and Chelyabinsk, but from cities all over the region. The hall is silent, everyone is deep in thought and concentrated on the attempts to challenge the famed grandmasters. These events are held to promote chess in the region, because meeting Russian chess legends is invariably an important event for children.

- The Superfinal is attended by many guests. Aside from the tournament, people are visiting Geliy Korzhev’s exposition, which has been opened in Magnezit Palace of Culture. You were there for the sixth round- what can you say about the organisation and the hosting venue?

- Yesterday was a day of two aspects for me. I saw the Magnezit Palace of Culture before the Superfinal started: after Satka’s victory, our team came to see the city and the hosting venue. We did not expect that everything would be so spectacular. I think that the Palace of Culture is comfortable for chess players and spectators alike, who are entertained by Sergey Shipov’s commentary. With regards to Geliy Korzhev’s exhibition, I can say that it is fantastic. Yesterday, little kids and adults came to the Palace of Culture, where they found the RCF Chess Museum’s exhibits and Geliy Korzhev’s paintings impressive. After the tours, they stayed to listen to Sergey Shipov. I think that everything is going on well, from the entourage to the content and to the level of comfort.

Despite a prolonged contest and an intense defence by their opponents, Sergei Rublevsky, Alexander Morozevich and Pavel Tregubov won on every board. Mikhail Kobalia won all games, except for one draw against Mikhail Larin. Timur Safin managed to defeat Dmitry Kryavkin and Viktor Bogachev drew against the grandmaster.

All participants were given gifts by the organisers, while Timur Safin, Viktor Bogachev, and Mikhail Larin were given special mentions.

And what about the players of the Superfinals?

They were offered a tour around the Zyuratkul National Park by the organisers. During the day, almost all participants went to see this exotic spot in the Urals, where they were followed by grandmasters who had given simuls and the organizers. The tour guides gave us a comprehensive lecture of Satka (the story about Dunyasha Nevzorova proved particularly popular), the beautiful Zyuratkul Lake, the national park and its inhabitants: so many animals and birds live there!

In the Zyuratkul eco-park, the chess players were hosted by the Eco-Café, where they were offered a traditional Russian lunch. When they had free time, guests would walk around the park to take photos of the local beauty spots and to meet the local inhabitants of the zoo: the bears, rabbits, a camel and other mammals.