31 December 2022

Happy New Year's Greetings from CFR President Andrey Filatov

Photo: Eteri Kublashvili
Photo: Eteri Kublashvili


Dear friends! 
 
I would like to congratulate everyone on the upcoming New Year! In the year that is about to end we have continued our active work on the development and popularisation of chess in the country, while the calendar tournaments have been carried out as planned. At the same time, our socially meaningful programmes and projects are being implemented with success.
 
Chess is a rare sport in which Russian athletes are capable of competing and achieving success in individual events. Thus, Ian Nepomniachtchi has won the FIDE Candidates Tournament for the second time in a row to advance to the World Championship Match, our young athletes have taken numerous medals at the World and European championships, and the end of the year saw Polina Shuvalova take bronze at the World Women's Blitz Championship. I once again congratulate all our players on their great achievements. 
 
I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the 15th CFR Congress delegates for their trust and appreciation of our Federation's work. We are looking into the future with optimism: the question of joining the Asian Chess Federation is on the agenda in the year to come. We are also in touch with FIDE about the Russian teams' return to the world arena, beginning with the most vulnerable groups – children, veterans, and players with disabilities. 
 
I wish everyone health, prosperity, and more success and victories to come!
 
Andrey Filatov, 
CFR President