The award ceremony for the winners and medalists of the children tournament of the festival - the Moscow Chess Federation Cup for School Champions - took place in the conference hall of the Russian State Social University. Awards for the most remarkable kids were presented by the FIDE Executive Director Geoffrey Borg (Malta), the Secretary of the FIDE Commission on the Organization of Competitions Theodoros Tsorbatzoglou (Greece), the first Vice President of the Moscow Chess Federation Nikita Kim, the Chairman of the International School Chess Union and the tournament director Alexander Kostiev.
More than 700 children from 10 countries competed for the top prizes - travel grants to attend the World School Chess Championships, which will be held in May this year in Greece. Coveted tickets were awarded to players who ranked first and second in their tournaments.
Eva Stepanian (Stavropol region) was first in the youngest age group - U9 girls, posting a score of 7.5 points out of 9. Three participants were half-a-step behind her. According on tie-breaker rules silver medal and the second ticket to Greece were awarded to Maria Sovina (Ivanovo). "Bronze" went Victoria Gnilorybova (Moscow). Victoria Loskutova (Altai Region) missed the top three.
Vlada Khilova (Nizhny Novgorod Region) won the tournament for U11 girls with 8 points. The runner-up Elena Badzgaradze (Moscow) had 7 points to her name. Chimita Sharapova (Ulan-Ude) matched her score, but lost on tie-breakers to finish third place in the tournament table.
Daria Gorovenko (Astrakhan) made a strong impression in D-13 group. With 8 points, she was a clear-cut winner. Second to fourth places went to Ekaterina Borisova (Moscow), Leila Ibrahimli (Azerbaijan) and Svetlana Tishova (Leningrad region). Tie-breakers gave "silver" to Borisova, "bronze" to Ibrahimli.
In D-15 group Irina Drogovoz (Khanty-Mansiysk) set herself apart from the competition. She secured her victory in the tournament in penultimate round. In the end she finished with 8 points, two points ahead of the next three competitors. Silver went to Imanli Magrura (Azerbaijan), bronze to the winner's sister Maria Drogovoz (Khanty-Mansiysk). Elena Orshonova (Irkutsk region) finished fourth.
In U9 boys' competition the best result - 8 points out of 9 - was scored two players Alexander Kataev (Murmansk region) and Danila Tarasov (Moscow). Kataev was declared the winner based on tie-breakers. Third and fourth place was shared by Fateh Iman (Azerbaijan) and Kyrill Shadunts (St. Petersburg). Imanov won the third place on tie-breakers.
The victory in M-11 group was celebrated by Muhammad Muraddi (Azerbaijan), in nine rounds, he lost only half a point. Silver medalist Artem Trubchanin (Krasnodar) gained 7.5 points and beat Ivan Kharitonov (Moscow) on tie-breakers.
Dinar Abelguzin (Ufa) won the M-13 group M-13 with a score of 8 points. Silver medalist - Bulat Nizams (Kazan) - was half-a-point behind him. Third place, also with 7.5 points, went to Niazi Nadiev (Azerbaijan).
In the oldest age group - the youths - Pavel Tchernyshev (Ryazan) was the most successful one. He finished with 8 points to his name and beat Roman Alkaev (Penza), who posted the same score, on a tie-breaker. The bronze medal was Kelsinbek Isakyanov (Kyrgyzstan), 7 points.
At the end of the ceremony, Geoffrey Borg remarked that Moscow Open is breaking all the records. He thanked the organizers and the President of the Moscow Chess Federation Vladimir Palikhata and tournament director Alexander Kostiev personally for organizing such a wonderful festival.
Alexander Kostiev wished all the winners a successful performance in the World School Chess Championships and promised that next year's tournament will be even more interesting.