Abkhazia from chess to festivals

In Abkhazia an extremely noteworthy event has just finished. On 20th January the final of the first "A-Mobile 2009" open chess tournament has been concluded in the capital of the republic.

"It is wonderful to see young people in this warm, cosy hall alongside venerable players," IA Apsynpress quotes the head of the marketing and advertising department of the "A-Mobile" company Georgi Mikvabiya. "They've got everything still to come. I can say that these tournaments will now be held every year. I hope that there will be even more participants, including from other countries."

Recently interest in chess in Abkhazia has grown markedly. The first tournament in the form of the International chess festival, the Abkhazia Open 2008, took place in July 2008.

Initially it was intended that such competitions would take place every month. But the events of last August prevented this. And then clashes resumed behind the chess board. Moreover, under the aegis of FIDE, the World Chess Federation.

The current tournament was comprised of two days of competition, and was held in the Anatoly Karpov school in Sukhumi. 28 sportsmen from the whole of Abkhazia competed for prizes. Amongst them were all the strongest players in the republic, as well as young players and beginners who are taking their first steps towards becoming masters of the sport. It is not professional trainers who are working with these up and coming players. People from other professions - doctors and engineers - train their children in their free time from work. But in the course of the tournament Vladimir Gatkis, an international master who had come to Sukhumi to attend, shared his experience with the young participants.

To the question of what attracted him to come, Vladimir replied:

"In my native city of Sochi and the Krasnodar krai, chess tournaments are a very rare occurrence. But with you competitions take place nearly every month. I have already taken part in four. And I'm not going to stop there. Abkhazia is now setting an example for many people. I mean in terms of the frequency of tournaments and the amount of people involved. Well done!"

Such views cannot help but please the inhabitants. Especially since they concern a republic where, it is no secret, there are numerous problems - from political to social ones.

Incidentally, alongside chess and other sports, more and more attention is being paid to the cultural sphere in Abkhazia. Festivals and art exhibitions, for example, are provoking a lively interest in the republic's population.

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