31 October 2019
Russian Schoolchildren Win Friendly Match against French Players
The event was organized by CFR and Timchenko Foundation.
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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