The chess crown is on the line. Dmitry Artyukhov will support Alexandra Goryachkina

The governor of Yamal Dmitry Artyukhov met with the most eminent chess player of the region Alexandra Goryachkina. The talk was about development of chess in the region. Alexandra told about her achievements and upcoming competitions. This year she has already taken the highest step of the winners’ podium three times - in the individual ranking or within the team. In early December Goryachkina will perform at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Monaco.

The most important match of the chess player of Yamal will be held in the beginning of next year. She will compete for the title of the world champion with the Chinese titleholder Ju Wenjun. The meeting will be held on the 4th of January in Shanghai, the opponents will play 6 games, another 6 - in Vladivostok. This summer Alexandra won the challengers tournament held in Kazan ahead of schedule, securing her place in the competition for the world chess crown.

“It has been six months since I became a challenger, and now it is very difficult to escape home to Salekhard. Training camps and tournaments follow each other around the world, active preparation for the match for the title of the champion is taking place”, said Alexandra Goryachkina.

According to the senior coach of the regional team Alexander Potapov, now chess in Yamal is at its peak of development. First of all, of course, thanks to Alexandra. “In history of Russia there was only one world chess champion — Alexandra Kostenyuk, then there was the superiority of Chinese chess players and we hope that it will be possible to break it”.

The governor thanked the sportswoman and coaches for their high achievements and wished for further success. “I will definitely follow the match and will support Alexandra”, he said.

As it should be noted, now 3500 people are engaged in this sport. Since 2000 the number of chess players has been growing steadily. 8 sports schools of Yamal train chess players at the professional level. The most famous of them is in Salekhard. According to Alexander Potapov, chess players of Noviy Urengoy began to show serious results. The quality of sports training is demonstrated with ranks and titles assigned to sportspeople of Yamal. Thus, for the latest 5 years: 1 honored master of sports, 4 masters of sports and 13 candidates for master of sports. The governor assures that he will contribute to the further promotion of chess in Yamal - it touches upon equipment of schools and new premises for classes. For example, before the end of the year a sports complex, which will include chess sections, will be opened in Labytnangi.