Chess activities held at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus

From March 28 to April 16, the Candidates Tournament took place at the Cap St Georges hotel in Cyprus, featuring various fan events including lectures and masterclasses. During a 20-board simultaneous exhibition match, grandmaster Boris Gelfand faced local youth players. 17-year-old Olga Mikhailina secured a victory, while 16-year-old Viktoria Sokolova achieved a draw against the former world championship finalist. Both players are students of Artem Sadovskii, the head of the Freedom24 Chess Academy. According to Sadovskii, Gelfand held an advantage during most of the match with Mikhailina. The grandmaster admitted to underestimating her counterattack on the queenside during a Sicilian Defense opening. The events held in the fan zone throughout the 20-day period aim to promote chess among local children and teenagers.