Happy International Chess Day!

Congratulations from CFR President Andrey Filatov.

 
 
Dear chess players, 
 
I congratulate you on the International Chess Day, which is celebrated for the 55th time this year.  A group of enthusiasts created the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris on July 20, 1924, and UNESCO established a new holiday in honour of this event in 1966. 
 
Our intellectual play has been existing for many centuries, is constantly changing together with the world, and has become part and parcel of the lives of millions of people not only in Russia but also in the whole world. Chess turned out to be the only sport, which started to develop actively online in a tough period of the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to highlight the Russian grandmasters' initiative to hold the Play For Russia charity tournament: chess helped raise a sizable amount of money in support of the Russian medical workers. 
 
Chess helps children in their intellectual development (that's why the CFR programmes "Chess to Orphanages" and "Chess in school" involve more and more regions), prolongs active longevity, and makes for the strengthening of friendly ties between countries and peoples. Of course, all of all are missing real-life communication during chess tournaments and festivals, and I hope that step by step we will renew our old life, full of chess events, as and when the epidemiologic situation improves.
 
I wish everyone new bright victories both over the board and in life! 
 

Andrey Filatov 
CFR President