As the 2021 Croatia Grand Chess Tour comes to a close, Executive Director of the Tour, Michael Khodarkovsky receives congratulations from Croatia’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic. In fact, the event was so successful, the Croatian Government will continue its patronage, and plans to make the tournament and annual event in Zagreb.
“I believe that this tournament will also contribute to the further popularization of this game, especially among young people, for whom this timeless game helps to develop a whole range of very useful skills in a fun way,” stressed Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.
In his speech, Prime Minister Plenković expressed satisfaction that the Croatia Grand Chess Tour chess tournament is being organized in Croatia for the second time. He reminded that one of the most prestigious chess tournaments in the world was canceled last year due to the covid pandemic.
He especially thanked the organizer, chess club E4 and grandmaster Zlatko Klarić for his great engagement. “This is your huge contribution to the popularization of chess in Croatia, but also to the promotion of Croatia among millions of chess players around the world,” Plenković emphasized.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the importance of this tournament for Croatia, as well as for the development of chess in general. “I am glad that there will be the best chess players in the world who will compete in a very spectacular fast-paced rapid chess or Rapid of 25 minutes + 10 seconds per extra move and in lightning fast chess or Blitz,” said the Prime Minister.
He said players from eight countries were taking part in the tournament and that it was a “cream of world chess.” Plenković expressed satisfaction that two former world champions Vishy Anand and Gari Kasparov, played under the Croatian flag this year.
The Prime Minister reminded that chess has a long tradition in Croatia. He said that the oldest documented trace of this game in our area comes from Zadar at the end of the 14th century, and then in Dubrovnik and Split, with chess soon spreading to the whole of Croatia, where it was played in the 16th and 17th centuries.
He added that the popularization of chess to all walks of life began in the 19th century, as evidenced by the problems of chess, which then began to be published in the press. “Thus, 135 years ago, the first chess tournament was held in Zagreb and the Zagreb Chess Club was founded, the first in Croatia,” Plenković said.
He also emphasized that the Chess Olympics were held in Dubrovnik in 1950, while the 7th place that Croatia achieved at the 1992 Olympics is the greatest team success of our chess players so far.
“I believe that this tournament will also contribute to the further popularization of this game, especially among young people, for whom this timeless game helps to develop a whole range of very useful skills in a fun way,” he said.
The Prime Minister pointed out that chess develops creativity, analytical thinking, combinatorics, planning, memory, the ability to make decisions and learn from one’s own mistakes. At the same time, he continued, chess develops concentration, focus, patience, perseverance and emotion control, which is useful in an increasing number of occupations and in many life situations.
“Chess is said to be a creative conflict of two plans or a ‘battle of ideas’ because it is not always the strongest or most experienced player who wins, but the best strategy or good tactical move and is therefore one of the few games where age is not an obstacle,” he said. Plenković, thanking Gary Kasparov once again for his efforts in popularizing chess in Croatia.
Prime Minister Plenković pointed out that he was happy that the Croatia Grand Chess Tour would become a tradition here. Below, Prime Minister Plenkovic makes an opening move against former World Champion Gary Kasparov.
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