31 October 2019
Russian Schoolchildren Win Friendly Match against French Players
The event was organized by CFR and Timchenko Foundation.
The winners of Belaya Ladya, the team from Saint Petersburg (Kirill Putrenko, Igor Ismagilov, Yuri Khodko, and Polina Tolmacheva, coach - Sergey Klimov) defeated the French team in a friendly match, which was organized as part of the Capechecs-2019 tournament.
The young chess players competed in 8 rounds with rapid time control. The Russian team won 21-11.
The schoolchildren exchanged memorable gifts. The Capechecs-2019 President Bob Textoris congratulated them at the official opening ceremony of the main event; all the players were given medals and diplomas.
For the first time in the history of friendly matches between the Russian and French children, a simultaneous exhibition with GM Laurent Fressinet was organized. A member of the Russian team Yuri Khodko managed to make a draw.
Besides, a vast cultural programme was organized for the Russian team. They visited the ancient castle Carcassonne, Museum Lapidaire, the Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, and had a ship trip along the channel.
The trip and a friendly match were organized by the Chess Federation of Russia with support of the Elena and Gennady Charitable Foundation.
Text and photos by Nina Bodenchuk
