Khmelnytskyi City Day will be remembered for its colorful events, noisy actions and mass festivities, but for many of our clients, another event will remain in their memory. The festive open-air chess game was long-awaited, intense and interesting, because such an event has never been held in our city before. Sixty warring armies simultaneously gathered in battles on chessboards! But the most interesting thing is that only thirty-one people played. How is this possible? Very simple, if it is a simultaneous game!
“It’s easier to beat your father with a group,” says folk wisdom, but it turns out not always to be right. The best chess players of the Jewish community gathered for a tournament with a specially invited guest from Mykolaiv, twenty-time champion of Ukraine, prize-winner of the European Championship in Prague Anastasia Rakhmangulova. The big game for the city day was organized by a member of our community, coach and FIDE master Mykhailo Gerasimenyuk. His achievements previously included the revival of the traditions of simultaneous play, which had not been held in the city for almost half a century, the upbringing of the young grandmaster Sasha Dovgaliuk, who became a sensation in 2015, and the organization of games at the Thiia Community Center. But this time the competition was the most spectacular and open to all comers, regardless of age. Therefore, both older people and very young but avid clients went to battle.
In three hours, almost all the pieces were "eaten". Out of thirty fights, the guest lost only four, which pleasantly surprised all the spectators and participants of the tournament. Of course, at the city level, this initiative was presented with dignity, and the Jewish community once again proved that intellectual variety can be no less impressive than strength or speed competitions. Not to mention that this day, the clients of our Foundation received a charge of adrenaline and excitement, which is useful for representatives of any age.
