The official logo of the World Draughts Championship was presented at the RUSSIA EXPO

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On June 26, a press conference with athletes of the Russian national checkers team was held. They presented the official logo of the World Draughts Championship, talked about the upcoming competitions, answered questions and started the countdown to the international tournament. The event was held in Pavilion C "Sport for Everyone" (Ministry of Sport of Russia).

The conference was attended by Yuri Korolev, two-time world champion, four-time Russian checkers champion of Russia, international grandmaster; Kristina Vatolina, multiple Russian checkers champion of Russia, European and world championship medalist, grandmaster; Anatoly Nikitin, president of the Russian Draughts Federation; and Alexei Shonin, vice-president of the Russian Draughts Federation, head coach of the Russian national team, grandmaster.

"About 25 countries will be present at the World Championship. We are gathering the best of the best. The prize fund will amount to 5 million rubles. Now we are actively preparing for the event, which will be held in the Moscow region from September 5 to 15. The competition will be held in three disciplines: lightning, fast and classical programs," said Anatoly Nikitin.

Alexei Shonin said that each member of the Russian team is a holder of international awards and a true professional.

"The geography of our team members is very wide - it includes the Tula region, Chelyabinsk and Kalinigrad regions. I would like to note that each of the participants is an international grandmaster, winner of Russian and European competitions. Each of them is a real magnitude in checkers, worthy of victory", Alexei Shonin noted.

Yuri Korolev spoke how the tournaments were organized, emphasizing that despite whatever restrictions Russia continues to maintain leadership in the sport and remains open to the world.

"What is being done now by the Russian Draughts Federation is top flight. The main competitors for me are the members of our national team. But I can sincerely say that I am proud of our ambitious and active guys, who despite any obstacles, achieve very serious results. And it is very good that our international championship is held in Russia. We are cutting another window to Europe and no one can stop us either in sport or in any other activity," said Yuri Korolev.

At the end of the event, the official logo of the World Draughts Championship was presented to its participants. It is made in the form of a checkerboard with a kokoshnik above it as a symbol of Russia's steadfastness and inviolability.

The World Draughts Championship will bring together the best athletes from Asia, Africa, Europe, North and South America. Representatives of more than 25 countries have already confirmed their participation. Among them are Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, Norway, Germany, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Georgia, Lithuania, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Congo, Colombia, USA, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, Bulgaria, Angola, Turkey, China.