“The region carries out the purposeful work to improve the health and raise the intellectual level of the young people under the leadership of Governor Natalya Komarova. You can’t help but admire Ugra because of the great attention paid to chess here. For over 10 years, one of the official events of FIDE calendar is held at the highest standard in Khanty-Mansiysk annually. In addition, starting from the 1st of September, chess became a compulsory subject in the schools of the region, indicating the concern of the Khanty-Ugra authorities for the younger generation,” said Ilyumzhinov.
“The official documents for inclusion of chess in primary and basic education have been drawn up. The phased implementation, which includes training of qualified personnel and purchase of teaching kits for practicing is scheduled. Such an attitude towards chess is understandable, because logical thinking developed by chess is linked with engineering and mathematics education. Consistency, the skill of analyzing first, and then do; the ability not to lose heart - all these skills are developed through chess and are always useful in life,” summed up the head of FIDE.
The World Chess Championship for boys and girls up to 14, 16 and 18 years old, which was attended by 400 juniors from 60 countries, ended in Khanty-Mansiysk yesterday. The closing ceremony was held in the concert and theater centre Ugra-Classic.
Russian chess players were successful in the tournament, winning one gold, five silver and one bronze medal. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov warmly thanked the Yugra authorities for the excellent organization of the championship.