On Thursday, January 31st, a press conference dedicated to the International RSSU Chess Cup "Moscow Open 2013" took place at the RIA-Novosti international multimedia press centre. The first deputy head of the Department of Physical Culture and Sport of the city of Moscow Nikolay Gulyaev, President of the Moscow Chess Federation Vladimir Palikhata, the pro-rector of the Russian State Social University Sergey Naumenkov, the tournament's director and executive director of the Moscow Chess Federation Alexander Kostiev answered questions posed by media representatives.

Speaking first, Nikolay Gulyaev remarked that he cannot help but be pleased with the fact that the tournament is already held for the ninth time. "Consistency is a sign of mastery, they say. I am convinced that the competition will be held on the highest level and that we will witness exciting duels."

The head of the Moscow Chess Federation Vladimir Palikhata thanked fellow organizers and partners for their help in organization of the Cup, highlighting the role of the founding rector of the RSSU Vasily Ivanovich Zhukov i n the creation of the largest - not only in Moscow, but in the entire world - chess festival. Vladimir Mironovich draw journalists' attention to the Moscow Chess Federation Cup for school champions. "Every year no less than 500 people participate in it and this year 600 have already registered, which indicates growing interest among kids towards this great game."

Sergey Naumenkov invited everyone to the RSSU for a great chess festival. "The management of our University believes that chess is an excellent mean of intellectual and cultural development of our students. The foundation of this approach was laid by the founding rector of the RSSU Vasily Ivanovich Zhukov." He stress that nowadays the student body and alumni of the RSSU count many grandmasters among its members, including Sergey Karyakin, the World Rapid Chess Cha mpion, and Valentina Gunina, the World Blitz Champion.

The tournament's director Alexander Kostiev pointed out the great social impact of the tournament. "The RSSU created a structure which helps to promote chess among students. MosComSport helped to create a sports school for kids and youth was created which attracted highly qualified coaches and, in turn, resulted in strong chess players, grandmasters, joining the University. Any major university in any town can do the same thing. A cooperation between a sports committee and a university allows to make chess more popular in the region very quickly," Kostiev is convinced. Alexander Nikolaevich also noted that the competition structure is very liberal and that highly qualified players participate in it alongside with kids, veterans, chess composers, amateurs, etc.

Answering a question posed by media, Palikhata told the press about other interesting chess events planned by the Moscow Chess Federation for the next year. "Last year we held a Moscow Blitz Championships, it took place at the Institute's summer facility "Strelka" and it was quite colourful. The Moscow Chess Federation together with "Our Heritage" foundation established a "Kaissa" award. It was given to outstanding chess players and famous people. We plan to organize it again in 2013. A number of events is planned to celebrate the jubilee of multiple-time Moscow Champion Evgeny Vasyukov. We are preparing them right now."

Evgeny Surov from Chess-News website asked about a possibility of moving "Mosco w Open" festival to another location.

According to Vladimir Palikhata at the moment there is a serious lack of venues for major chess events in Moscow. They have discussed the issue with the head of MosComSport Alexey Vorobiev and at the moment all possible efforts are expanded to solve this problem.

Alexander Kostiev said that the University offered its held at difficult times, when Moscow needed its 'own' tournament. At the same time he agrees that should the number of people willing to take part in the tournament increase at the same rate, soon the RSSU will be physically unable to fit all of them at their premises. He explained that they are constantly looking for other venues, which w ould be critical should the number of participant exceed 2000.

After the conclusion of the press conference an official drawing ceremony for rating favourites in open tournament was held. It was conducted by Vladimir Palikhata and specially invited guest, the main favourite of the Russian Cup and the 2010 European Champion and RSSU alumni Yan Nepomnyaschii. The grandmaster drew a black pawn and therefore in the first round of open tournaments rating favourites will play black.

Pictorial report.