Chess players on a sightseeing tour around Khanty-Mansiysk

Today, on June 22, chess players, arbiters and media team of the World Team Chess Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk had a chance not only to get some vitamin D walking on this warm and sunny day but also to satifsfy their hunger for information, getting to know more about history and culture of Ugra.

A sightseeing tour around the city has united those who got tired of the look of the playing hall of Ugra Chess Academy as well as a landscape seen from the hotel windows. Teams of Norway, China, India, USA and Vietnam have set their chess boards aside and took part in the excursion around Khanty-Mansiysk.

The first and the most remarkable stop on their bus tour was at the visit card of the Ugra capital – Archeopark. Huge mammoths, saber-toothed tigers and other ancient animals impressed many chess players. The most brave and cold-blooded ones managed to climb on their backs despite the fact that the bronze figures were heated by the sun. The hot metal was “biting” chess players who wanted to caress prehistoric animals.

The city tour also included visits to the boat station of Khanty-Mansiysk where all the participants managed to make a photo on the bank of river Irtysh, the Winter Sports Center and the the Church of Resurrection of Christ.

Although many players have already visited Khanty-Mansiysk before, they were surprised to see the city green and blooming. “I was here in November 2016 but didn’t have a chance to walk around the city then as it was very cold outside, – says Board 1 of women’s team of China Ju Wenjun, – Today is warm and sunny so I feel relaxed and enjoy the excursion. Khanty-Mansiysk is so beautiful in summer. My favourite place here is a park in the center of the city, it has so many beautiful green trees. I hope to be back here next year for the Women’s World Championship”.

The final stop of a 2-hour excursion around Khanty-Mansiysk was the green heart of the city – its Central park. Fountains, white birch trees and, of course, smiles of people will stay not only on the pages of the participants of the tournament in social networks, but also in their hearts and memory.