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Vladimir Kramnik and seven top Russian players come together for a unique charity event

by Sagar Shah - 29/04/2020

All over the world chess is being used as a powerful tool for raising funds for the fight against Corona virus. In India we had several events where chess players came together to raise funds for the PM CARES fund. Now, we see something quite wonderful happening in Russia. Eight of the top Russian players including 14th World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, Nepo, Grischuk, Karjakin, Svidler, Tomashevsky, Inarkiev and Riazentsev are going to play a blitz tournament from the 12th to the 14th of May to raise funds for regional hospitals and health workers in Russia. Already over 2500,000 Rubles (close to Rs.25 lakh) have been raised through this noble initiative. Read more.

Play for Russia - an online charity fundraiser

Russia is setting an example of how all their top players are coming together to raise funds for the fight against Corona virus. The Charity Tournament Play for Russia will take Place on May 12-14. At the initiative of the tournament participants, the Chess Federation of Russia and the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation will co-support the first charity online tournament that will feature the country's strongest grandmasters.

Who are the participants?

Each of the top player plays for a region in Russia, either the place where he was born or the place where he is living and raises funds

The players include:

 

1. Vladimir Kramnik (Krasnodar Krai)

2. Ian Nepomniachtchi (Bryansk Oblast)

3. Alexander Grischuk (Moscow)

4. Sergey Karjakin (Crimea)

5. Peter Svidler (St. Petersburg)

6. Evgeny Tomashevsky (Saratov Oblast)

7. Ernesto Inarkiev (Caucasus)

8. Alexander Riazantsev (Ural and Siberia)

 

It will be a double round-robin event featuring 5 minutes per game plus a 2-second increment per move. The GMs will first play the round-robin part to reveal the strongest four to qualify into a knockout play-off.

 

The prize pool will be shared among regional hospitals and health workers fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. The participants will determine beforehand the amount and recipients of the donation, depending on the needs of a particular health institution. The entire prize fund is distributed equally among the regions, regardless of the final standings.

Tournament Schedule:

May 12 – first half (7 rounds)

May 13 – second half (7 rounds)

May 14 - semifinals and a final. 

 

Games start at 3 p.m. Moscow time.

 

The tournament is supported by the Ramax group of companies. Match TV, media partner of the tournament, will provide the coverage and live broadcast. The tournament will be played on Lichess.org.

 

2,505,000 rubles (25 lakh Rupees) have been raised so far. 

Bank details:

Euro Account:

Beneficiary customer: CFR

Bank:  SBERBANK, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

SWIFT code: SABRRUMM

Euro Account: 40703978938001000022

 

Dollar Account:

Beneficiary customer: CFR

Bank:  SBERBANK, MOSCOW, RUSSIA

SWIFT code: SABRRUMM 

Dollar Account: 40703840638260200813

 

Payment reference: Donation for a charity tournament, without VAT.

Contact person: Ekaterina Vasilchenko, e-mail: ks@ruchess.ru, tel.: +7 905 774 15 36.

 

Chess is uniquely placed sport under this pandemic. It is the only sport that can be played online without losing its complete charm. The top players of Russia truly have come up with a great idea to support a noble cause and use their skills in chess to raise funds for the fight against Covid-19.

When you have the 14th World Champion whole heartedly involved in an initiative, it is bound to succeed

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