ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2017

The world champion wins in Prague

[20.06.2017 00:00:00] - The world rapid chess champion, Vassily Ivanchuk, won the twelve-game match in rapid chess against the best Czech chess player, David Navara. The Ukrainian grandmaster won 7,5:4,5 proving to be more experienced in practical skills. Even though the Czech representative managed more often to get a favourable position, Ivanchuk was better in managing the time and using his strengths; hence he was able to get through worse positions and score from better positions. Navara won one game, lost four and seven games were even.

Bellow, you can see four pictures taken at this year festival, which took place at Michna Palace in Kampa, Prague. And which was once again held by the Prague Chess Society. It was already fifteenth match, which was prepared for the best chess player by Pavel Matocha and his trustworthy colleagues.

Complete set of pictures taken by our photographer, PŠS Anežka Kružíková, can be found here. The festival was opened by the mayor of Prague 1, Oldřich Lomecký, by d2-d4 move. “I love beautiful ladies as well as the queen´s gambit and so I am opening this game with queen´s pawn.”, noted Lomecký commenting on his opening move. Apart from the grandmasters match, which was discussed under the lead of grandmaster Cvek in the commentator room, with the aid or other Czech representatives and foreign guests (such as Vlastimil Hort, Genna Sosonko, Viktor Láznička, Dmitrij Plisecký, Vojtěch Plát, Martin Petr, Michal Konopka or Sergej Movsesjan), other interesting program was prepared for the audience.

ČEZ CHESS TROPHY 2017 also included exhibition of artistic chess sets and exhibition of photographs taken in chess bars and restaurants, lecture on chess openings held by grandmaster Cvek, quiz prepared by grandmaster Hort on Bobby Fischer and simul of world chess champion, Vassily Ivanchuk.

All games from Navara – Ivanchuk match can be seen here. In detail report, together with games and commentary will be available on Friday in Šachový týdeník (Chess Weekly).


The world chess champion, Vassily Ivanchuk managed to beat the best Czech chess player 7,5 : 4,5, showing that the world title is rightly his.


The first formal move was performed by the mayor of Prague 1, Oldřich Lomecký, under whose patronage the festival was held.


The girlfriend of David Navara, Anička, also came to support him. In the picture, together with them, are GM Viktor Láznička, IM Michal Konopka, GM Robert Cvek and the director of the festival, Pavel Matocha.


The Czech actress Marie Kružíková played a game with a legendary grandmaster Vlastimil Hort using the designer chess set. Grandmaster Genna Sosonko is standing by.

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