World Junior Grandmasters: charity project for disabled children

On November 9, within the framework of the International Tashir Chess Tournament in memory of Tigran Petrosian, a special simultaneous session will be held - the 'World Junior Grandmasters'. Young chess players with physical disabilities will have a unique opportunity to play with the greatest grandmasters in the world. The event is organised by Tashir Group, the Russian Chess Federation and the charity fund 'The country of talents' within the programme of the all-Russian charity evenings for disabled children 'Melody of the game'. Eight children from the Moscow Metropolitan Area rehabilitation schools will contend with the participants of the International Tashir Chess Tournament in memory of Tigran Petrosian held over November 3 to 11. Prior to their own performance at the tournament, a team of grandmasters will play with the children: the World Cup holder, three-time Olympic Chess Champion Levon Aronian (Armenia); the ex-world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia); the two-time World Blitz Chess Champion Alexander Grischuk (Russia); the Vice World Chess Champion Boris Gelfand (Israel); the Vice World Champion Peter Leko (Hungary); the leading grandmaster Din LiZhen (China); the two-time Chess Champion of Russia Alexander Morozevich (Russia); and the winner of the Russian Championship Higher Leagues Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia). The judge of the 'World Junior Grandmasters' session will be Boris Postovsky – the tournaments' chief judge. The grandmaster Rafael Vaganian will present the award to the children participating in the session.

Zara Agemian, head of communications and marketing of Tashir Group: "Disabled children have unhindered mental capacity and great will-power to overcome all difficulties on the way to the victory. Any actions today are shaping tomorrow, and our task is to create conditions contributing to the intellectual development of the younger generation. We are happy to be able to hold a special tournament for children within the framework of the main tournament and to give children the chance to compete and socialise with the greatest grandmasters of modernity".

Rafael Vaganian, grandmaster and Chairman of the appellation committee of the International Tashir Chess Tournament in memory of Tigran Petrosian: "For the improvement of the young players, live communications with the leading grandmasters of the world play a great role that computers cannot replace. I remember many years ago my friends and I used to watch Tigran Petrosian, how greedily we were devouring every move of the great champion! This game for disabled children will surely give them plenty of stimulation and inspiration for a deeper study of chess. Our game brings people together and stays with us for life!" The main aim of the evening is to attract the attention of the public and the media to the possibilities of self-realisation and integration of disabled children through studying chess.

Zara Agemian, head of communications and marketing of Tashir Group:"Disabled children have unhindered mental capacity and great will-power to overcome all difficulties on the way to the victory. Any actions today are shaping tomorrow, and our task is to create conditions contributing to the intellectual development of the younger generation. We are happy to be able to hold a special tournament for children within the framework of the main tournament and to give children the chance to compete and socialise with the greatest grandmasters of modernity".

Rafael Vaganian, grandmaster and Chairman of the appellation committee of the International Tashir Chess Tournament in memory of Tigran Petrosian: "For the improvement of the young players, live communications with the leading grandmasters of the world play a great role that computers cannot replace. I remember many years ago my friends and I used to watch Tigran Petrosian, how greedily we were devouring every word of the great champion! This game for disabled children will surely give them plenty of stimulation and inspiration for a deeper study of chess. Our game brings people together and stays with us for life!"

The main aim of the evening is to attract the attention of the public and the media to the possibilities of self-realisation and integration of disabled children through studying chess.