The Presidential Library hosted a chess tournament in memory of Professor I. Ya. Blekhtsin

On April 13, 2023 the Presidential Library hosted the Blitz Grand Prix of Russia "Chess Tournament in Memory of I. Ya. Blekhtsin". The sports competition dedicated to the memory of the scientific director of the Gazprom Specialized Department of the St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Doctor of Geography, Professor, International Chess Master Igor Yakovlevich Blekhtsin is held at the Presidential Library for the third time.

Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Elena Pavlova, Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Physical Culture and Sports, Pavel Belov, Deputy Director General of Gazprom Transgaz St. Petersburg, and Executive Director of the Chess Federation, delivered a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the tournament Alexander Tkachev of Russia, Alexandra Tronyak, Igor Blekhtsin's widow, and Vladimir Bykov, Executive Director of the Sports Chess Federation of St. Petersburg.

The first symbolic move of the tournament was made by the rector of the St. Petersburg State University of Economics Igor Maksimtsev.

214 chess players from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Leningrad Region and other regions of the country attended the competition. Just like last year, International Grandmaster Evgeny Alekseev won the tournament with 9.5 points out of 11 possible. The second place was taken by international grandmaster Sergey Lobanov. Rounding out the top three winners was international grandmaster Maxim Turov.

A round table entitled "Development of Chess in St. Petersburg: Problems and Prospects" was held as part of the event. During the work of the round table, issues in the field of children's and youth chess, international cooperation, as well as holding the Superfinals of the Russian Championship among men and women in St. Petersburg were discussed. The event was attended by Sergey Markov, First Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for External Relations, Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, Pavel Belov, Deputy Director General of Gazprom Transgaz St. Petersburg, and Director of the Talent Academy Regional Center for Identifying and Supporting Gifted Children Ingrid Pildes, Executive Director of the Sports Chess Federation of St. Petersburg Vladimir Bykov, member of the Supervisory Board of the Russian Chess Federation Igor Burshtein and senior coach of the St. Petersburg chess team, grandmaster Sergey Ivanov.

The event has been organized by the Sports Chess Federation of St. Petersburg with the support of the Presidential Library, the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports of St. Petersburg, the Chess Federation of Russia and the St. Petersburg State University of Economics.