17 February 2016

Blatter is in Zurich, and Filatov is in Jerusalem

Russian major sports newspaper continues to follow chess events closely.

The following article was published in the Russian daily sports newspaper Sport-Express on Tuesday, February 16. We present the English translation of the text written by Kirill Zangalis. 

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The American Hikaru Nakamura won a chess tournament in Zurich. Vladimir Kramnik, the only Russian representative in this event, finished third. 

In the final round of the rapid tournament, Nakamura, playing Black, defeated the Armenian Levon Aronian. Vishwanathan Anand from India, who was in the lead after the round 4, drew with Kramnik. Anish Giri made a draw with Alexei Shirov in the tailenders' matchup. 

In the blitz tournament Anand, Kramnik, and Nakamura scored 3.5 points, Giri had 2.5, Aronian had 1.5, and Shirov collected just half a point. However, the tie-break score of Nakamura was superior, and the American was awarded the first prize. 

Final standings:

Nakamura 10.5
Anand 10.5
Kramnnik 9.5
Giri, Aronian 5.5
Shirov 3.5

Former FIFA head Sepp Blatter visited the event on the last day. We enquired the former football official about his opinion on chess. Mr. Blatter said he was very glad to see such an event in Zurich, and happy to finally meet in person Vladimir Kramnik and Vishwanathan Anand. He also said it was surprising for him to see chess still being so popular in Zurich, and he greatly enjoyed wathcing the top chess action. The atmosphere of this tournament was, according to Blatter, matching the atmosphere of the football World Cup. 

Former FIFA head also thanked the Russian Oleg Skvortsov for organizing this tournament. Mr. Blatter said he was very interested to meet Mr. Skvortsov, and is very thankful to Russian chess enthusiasts for having such a great chess festival in Zurich. 

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Meanwhile, Andrey Filatov, president of Russian Chess Federation, took part in a cultural event in Israel. 

The ceremony to transfer the painting Freedom! by Evsey Moiseenko to the exhibition at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial to the victims and heroes of the Holocaust, took place in Jerusalem. The painting, on loan form Art Russe Foundation, was presented by its founder Andrey Filatov, to the museum for use in a permanent exhibition.

Founder of Art Russe Andrey Filatov for his part said: “26 million victims is the price paid by the Soviet Union for victory in World War II. The theme of World War II, one of the most tragic pages in the history of Russia, has had a huge impact on the work of several generations of Soviet artists. The works of those who directly witnessed the war and went through its spiritual and physical trials are particularly valuable. 

“Freedom! by Evsey Moiseenko is a very personal work of an outstanding artist. It shows that the spirit of man, the desire for freedom is stronger than the most terrible ordeal. Last year, this painting was shown at the Saatchi Gallery in London on the occasion of the Art Russe exhibition dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the victory over fascism, as well as at the exhibition “Art Russe Collection of Russian and Soviet Art of the Twentieth Century: War and Peace” in Abu Dhabi. It will now be exhibited in Jerusalem. I am very grateful for the opportunity to exhibit this painting at Yad Vashem, this unique and tragic place that houses the memory and testimony of millions of victims of Nazism.”



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