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Friday, 29.03.2024, 00:09
Riga has all the right conditions to host European Youth Chess Championship – Grandmaster Mikhalchishin
The
European Youth Chess Championship opened at the Kipsala exhibition center in
Riga on Sunday, bringing together over 1,000 players from 47 countries. Around
110 players represent Latvia at the tournament.
"I am
honored to address you on behalf of the Riga City Council," Riga Vice
Mayor Andris Ameriks said while
opening the event. "We are proud of our city, which marks its 817th
birthday this year, and the events that are taking place in Riga right now.
This chess championship is one of the greatest and most important events to
take place here as part of the annual Riga Festival," he said, wishing all
participants in the tournament every success in the future.
Mikhalchishin
said in turn that the tournament was one of the major chess competitions in
Europe. "The conditions in Riga are excellent and the organizers have done
a great job so the players could feel at home. Latvia has had a number of
outstanding players, and everyone has a chance to rise to the top level here.
Latvia is unique in that its Finance Minister, Dana Reizniece-Ozola is a Chess Grandmaster. We also have special
prizes entitling the best players of the tournament to visit, free of charge,
chess camps where they will have the opportunity to attend classes by the
world's best chess coaches."
Latvian
Education and Science Minister Karlis
Sadurskis said during the event that those engaged in traditional sport
disciplines train to build speed and strength, "but sports also mean
harmony and balance. Chess is a mind sport based on strategic thinking. In some
countries, chess has been incorporated in schools' curricula, helping students
achieve better results in their studies."
"The
participants in the tournament have to realize that this is a place where they
can experience real emotions - the joy of victory and the despair of
defeat," Reizniece-Ozola told the players, wishing them to enjoy the
tournament and their stay in Riga. "Riga has hosted different chess
tournaments, but this one is my favorite as here I can see the future of chess
and the up-and-coming stars."
The
organizer of the event, Egons Lavendelis
said he was very happy that the championship was taking place in Riga, and that
the organizers would do everything in their power for the tournament to be a
success.
The
European Youth Chess Championship will run through August 29.