Belaya Ladya Finals Open in Sochi Park Hotel

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants.

On June 1, Children's Day, the Sochi Park Hotel (federal territory "Sirius") delivered ceremonial opening to the Belaya Ladya Finals, which is the All-Russian chess competition among teams of comprehensive educational institutions. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to this prestigious tournament's participants. 

Alexander Tkachev, CFR Executive Director, welcomed the participants and declared the tournament open. Chief arbiter Vladimir Staratorzhsky held the drawing of lots ceremony.  

The ceremony guests enjoyed a colourful laser show, as well as performance by artists of the original genre. Everyone was free to take pictures with the mirrored King and Queen. 

This is the 54th edition of Belaya Ladya. The Sochi Park Hotel serves as the Finals' venue for the first time. Starting on June 1, the International Children's Day, the competitions is scheduled to last through June 10.

This year's tournament lists 340 students from out of 85 subjects of the Russian Federation, as well as guests from two foreign countries: Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Note that the year 2023 marked Chukotka Autonomous Okrug's qualification round the first time ever.

The tournaments are round-robin events held in 9 rounds. Line-up of teams – 4 players (with at least one young female player) born in 2009 and up and one coach. Game days: June 2-10. A trip to the prestigious international tournament and an excursion programme are up for grabs for winners as a chief prize. 

An extensive additional programme, such as master classes, lectures, conferences, classes with grandmasters, various sports and intellectual games, is traditionally organised as part of the competition.

The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation and the Chess Federation of Russia, co-supported by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Timchenko Foundation, take responsibility for the overall competition management as part of the federal project "Sport is a Norm of Life". General partner of the CFR — PhosAgro. Partners of the competition are Aeroflot, the federal territory "Sirius" and the Sochi Park Hotel recreation facility.

Photos

Tournament page

Photos by Vladimir Barsky and Alexander Sidorov