Tweet
CHESS IN THE CAUCASUS
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 11 2014
11 July 2014 - 12:27pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
The Soviet chess school was well-known all over the world. When the
Soviet Union collapsed, world champions such as Botvinnik, Smyslov,
Tal, Karpov, and Spassky founded the International Association of
Chess Federations of the CIS countries. It is one of the oldest
organizations in the CIS space. Anatoly Karpov, grand master,
the first deputy of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy,
Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship, speaks about the level
of chess schools in various countries of the post-Soviet space.
"When the world became global, working groups were mingled and personal
coach groups became international. Today we cannot say that we have
chess school secrets. The whole world knows them. At the same time, the
training system in the USSR chess organization was perfect, and Armenia
and China managed to improve it. Today Armenia and China have the best
chess federations and organizations. There were changes in Russia;
we should only encourage the spirit of our players," Karpov thinks.
According to him, women's chess is developing: "Previously there were
problems with it. In Soviet times we were oriented toward the example
of the GDR, where certain cities were responsible for certain kinds
of sport. For example, Leipzig was responsible for cycling, Dresden -
for swimming. And in the USSR it was decided that Georgian girls play
chess outstandingly, they were world champions. So, let them deal with
chess. At the same time, in Russia women's chess always stayed at a
high level, and before Gaprindashvili all the champions were Russian.
But the general position was to give it to Georgia. Russia fulfilled
the order, as a disciplined republic, while Ukraine, Azerbaijan and
Kyrgyzstan continued developing women's chess secretly. When the USSR
collapsed it appeared that women's chess in Russia was underdeveloped,
while in Ukraine they immediately began to fight for championship
titles. Female chess players from Kyrgyzstan got in the top three of
the Asian Championships. Azerbaijan had good players, for example Sofia
Aliyeva. Armenian girls played well. And only Russia lost everything."
Karpov hopes that the Aeroflot Tournament will be restored: "I
remember how the Foreign Ministry met us halfway when problems with
Georgia occurred. Georgian grandmasters always participated in our
Aeroflot Tournaments. I remember how difficult it was to be issued
a visa at the time, but we managed to bring Georgian grandmasters,
I mean Dzhobava. He took part in the Moscow International Aeroflot
Tournament in 2008, the most difficult period."
Karpov told Vestnik Kavkaza that "chess could be an instrument
of bringing people closer. If people don't meet, they cannot
understand each other or find ways out of problems. Of course,
in such difficult situations as the conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, compromises are needed, but a solution
should be found. People live close to each other, they are neighbors,
and they should find a solution. I remember when there was the war,
we managed to bring to the negotiating table representatives of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia not within the chess movement,
but within the movement of peace supporters, there was the Soviet
Peace Foundation. As a result it led to further meetings between
politicians, and the war was stopped. It is a huge achievement,
and now we cannot achieve it in Eastern Ukraine. Even leaders of
the European countries say that first of all the military activity
should be stopped in the east of Ukraine, talks should be initiated,
and people should try to listen to each other and find a mutually
satisfactory solution. I think the knot of fears and problems in the
Caucasus and Ukraine can be undone only through negotiations."
As for the level of chess players in the Caucasus Karpov said: "I
have already said that chess playing is developed in all countries
of the Caucasus, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. As for Georgia,
some of their women retired, others left the country. And now women's
chess in Georgia is at a lower level than before. But men's chess is
developed better than in Soviet times.
As for the North Caucasus, Nalchik is very active in chess development,
first of all women's chess. Unfortunately, interest is not high, as the
traditional chess development base was Kislovodsk, where tournaments
took place. We should restore the traditions. The Caucasus is not
far from chess, and chess has always been in the Caucasus.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/sport/57558.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
July 11 2014
11 July 2014 - 12:27pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
The Soviet chess school was well-known all over the world. When the
Soviet Union collapsed, world champions such as Botvinnik, Smyslov,
Tal, Karpov, and Spassky founded the International Association of
Chess Federations of the CIS countries. It is one of the oldest
organizations in the CIS space. Anatoly Karpov, grand master,
the first deputy of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy,
Innovation Development and Entrepreneurship, speaks about the level
of chess schools in various countries of the post-Soviet space.
"When the world became global, working groups were mingled and personal
coach groups became international. Today we cannot say that we have
chess school secrets. The whole world knows them. At the same time, the
training system in the USSR chess organization was perfect, and Armenia
and China managed to improve it. Today Armenia and China have the best
chess federations and organizations. There were changes in Russia;
we should only encourage the spirit of our players," Karpov thinks.
According to him, women's chess is developing: "Previously there were
problems with it. In Soviet times we were oriented toward the example
of the GDR, where certain cities were responsible for certain kinds
of sport. For example, Leipzig was responsible for cycling, Dresden -
for swimming. And in the USSR it was decided that Georgian girls play
chess outstandingly, they were world champions. So, let them deal with
chess. At the same time, in Russia women's chess always stayed at a
high level, and before Gaprindashvili all the champions were Russian.
But the general position was to give it to Georgia. Russia fulfilled
the order, as a disciplined republic, while Ukraine, Azerbaijan and
Kyrgyzstan continued developing women's chess secretly. When the USSR
collapsed it appeared that women's chess in Russia was underdeveloped,
while in Ukraine they immediately began to fight for championship
titles. Female chess players from Kyrgyzstan got in the top three of
the Asian Championships. Azerbaijan had good players, for example Sofia
Aliyeva. Armenian girls played well. And only Russia lost everything."
Karpov hopes that the Aeroflot Tournament will be restored: "I
remember how the Foreign Ministry met us halfway when problems with
Georgia occurred. Georgian grandmasters always participated in our
Aeroflot Tournaments. I remember how difficult it was to be issued
a visa at the time, but we managed to bring Georgian grandmasters,
I mean Dzhobava. He took part in the Moscow International Aeroflot
Tournament in 2008, the most difficult period."
Karpov told Vestnik Kavkaza that "chess could be an instrument
of bringing people closer. If people don't meet, they cannot
understand each other or find ways out of problems. Of course,
in such difficult situations as the conflict between Azerbaijan and
Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, compromises are needed, but a solution
should be found. People live close to each other, they are neighbors,
and they should find a solution. I remember when there was the war,
we managed to bring to the negotiating table representatives of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian intelligentsia not within the chess movement,
but within the movement of peace supporters, there was the Soviet
Peace Foundation. As a result it led to further meetings between
politicians, and the war was stopped. It is a huge achievement,
and now we cannot achieve it in Eastern Ukraine. Even leaders of
the European countries say that first of all the military activity
should be stopped in the east of Ukraine, talks should be initiated,
and people should try to listen to each other and find a mutually
satisfactory solution. I think the knot of fears and problems in the
Caucasus and Ukraine can be undone only through negotiations."
As for the level of chess players in the Caucasus Karpov said: "I
have already said that chess playing is developed in all countries
of the Caucasus, including Armenia and Azerbaijan. As for Georgia,
some of their women retired, others left the country. And now women's
chess in Georgia is at a lower level than before. But men's chess is
developed better than in Soviet times.
As for the North Caucasus, Nalchik is very active in chess development,
first of all women's chess. Unfortunately, interest is not high, as the
traditional chess development base was Kislovodsk, where tournaments
took place. We should restore the traditions. The Caucasus is not
far from chess, and chess has always been in the Caucasus.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/sport/57558.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress