Chess Train 2019

Ministers on board

[12.10.2019 00:00:00] - Minister of Transport Vladimír Kremlík and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček opened the ninth year of the Chess Train today. Both Ministers, under whose patronage this year's Chess Train goes, attended its ceremonial departure. Along with the Ministers, the Deputy of General Director of the Czech Railways Patrik Horný, the General Director of SŽDC Jiří Svoboda and the General Director of JLV Bohumír Bárta were present at the opening ceremony at the Prague Main Station Government Lounge.

“I came to support this original idea and to thank those people who are preparing the project. I support and will continue to support the Chess Train for the next year and many other years. I believe that this train will drive more and more on modern railway corridors, high-speed lines and I also believe that in 2028 the tournament will already start at Václav Havel Airport, from where participants will go to Prague, ”said during the opening ceremony Minister of Transport Vladimír Kremlík.



Minister of Transport Vladimír Kremlík, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček, Director General of SŽDC Jiří Svoboda, Deputy Director General of Czech Railways Patrik Horný, Director of the Czech Railways Communication Department Lenka Voplatková and CEO JLV Bohumír Bárta during the opening ceremony in the Prague Main Station Government Lounge.

The idea of the Chess Train and its travel abroad was also supported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček, adding the note that the chess and foreign policy are inherent: “Since time immemorial, this royal game has been played by intellectuals and state leaders. This game was very popular in the Czech lands as well, according to historical chronicles of chess, the Czech monachrs Jan Lucemburský and Jiří of Poděbrady also enjoyed chess.”



Minister of Foreign Affairs Tomáš Petříček played a game in the Chess Train with the chairman of the Prague Chess Society Pavel Matocha. Patrik Horný, Deputy Managing Director of Czech Railways and Jiří Svoboda, Managing Director of SŽDC, are playing behind them.

In the International Chess Train Tournament 2019, 85 chess players are fighting, coming from all over the world, including as far countries as the Philippines, India or the US. Main favourite of the tournament is German Grand Master Michael Prusikin.

We will find out who will be the winner of this year on Tuesday when the train returns from Prague via Karlovy Vary, Český Krumlov, Brno and Trenčín. You can follow the tournament either on the website of the Prague Chess Company (www.praguechess.cz) or on the Facebook profile of the Chess Train. The concept of the Chess Train, organized by the Prague Chess Company with Czech Railways, is unique worldwide and unprecedented in history. The Chess Train combines rail travel through the beautiful cities of Central Europe with a five-day international rapid chess tournament, which is played on the board during its journey between stage cities.

| Pavel Matocha | visits(3782x)