The 17th International Chess Festival “Veaceslav Chebanenko” will take place in Chisinau between March 31 and April 2. It will bring together 135 participants from eight countries, including international grand masters. The president of the International Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is the special invitee of the event.

Asked by IPN, director of the National Chess and Checkers Club Iurie Opinca said the festival aims to popularize chess in Moldova and to strengthen the friendship relations with chess players from other states. It is also homage rendered to late coach and teacher Veaceslav Chebanenko.

The event includes three tournaments that will take place at the National Chess and Checkers Club (111 Schusev St), Specialized Sports School No. 7 (14 Vasile Lupu St) and Europa Hotel (16 Vasile Lupu St). The top prize of the festival is 18,000 lei. There will be also awarded 10 special prizes in each of the three tournaments.

The costs for organizing the competitions and awarding the winners are covered by the Chess Federation of Moldova, while the travel and accommodation expenses of the participants - by the organizations that the chess players represent.

Viorel Bologan was the winner of the 16th International Chess Festival “Veaceslav Chebanenko”.