Andrey Filatov Wishes Happy New Year to Chess Players

Congratulations from the CFR President.

Dear friends! 

The outgoing year has become a tough challenge for all of us. However, now, on the eve of 2021, we can confidently say that chess players managed to get out of their resources and possibilities as much as possible. The chess life didn't stop: a great number of online events and master classes were held, and various lectures, lessons, and interviews were recorded. Online has become a rescue for professional sportsmen and a real joy to amateurs! 

For the first time in the history of chess, our grandmasters, the World and European team champions, won the first FIDE Online Olympiad, thus collecting a full set of gold medals. In spring, the Russian chess players, on Vladimir Kramnik's initiative, held a unique charity tournament called Play For Russia in aid of the regional hospitals and health workers, who were fighting against COVID-19. In June, the chess world celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Space to Earth chess match. Sergey Karjakin played a game against pilot-cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin, Hero of the Russian Federation, and test cosmonaut Ivan Vagner. 

Our young players continue to make us happy: the Russian sportsmen won 13 medals at the Online European Championship, showing the best team result. Our seniors also proved their highest class: the Russian team won gold medals in the "65+" category at the World Senior Team Championship, held in Prague in March.  

The Chess Federation of Russia managed to organise and hold its major scheduled tournaments, such as Russian Championships Superfinals and Higher League, Russian Team Championships, Russian Team U19 Team Championship, Russian Junior Championships, and many others.  

It all gives us hope that the forthcoming year will be fascinating and full of chess events. Happy New Year, dear friends! I wish you all robust health, athletic and creative successes, and new victories!

Andrey Filatov,
President of the Chess Federation of Russia