Only in a few hours the first round of the World Blitz Championship will start in the Khanty-Mansiysk Ugra Chess Academy. The Russian player Alexander Grischuk will face Ivan Popov, Dmitry Jakovenko will play against Alexey Pridorozhny and Gata Kamsky (USA) will meet Evgeny Naier (Russia).

One of the famous Grandmasters Gata Kamsky came to Ugra with his wife and son one day before the tournament. «I like blitz but to gain a victory here is not my first consideration. I like this city. I am from Syberia and I will play at the championship to enjoy the process. There were times when a result was important for me, now i don’t think about it, «- chess player says.

Dmitry Jakovenko — hope of Ugra, a chess player from Nizhnevartovsk expressed his big doubts about his successful performance in the Rapid and Blitz Championships.

«I never played in such tournaments and frankly speaking I don’t know what to expect, — Grandmaster confessed. — I did not prepare to the championships in any special way, I just finished my games at the French league. Maybe, as Russian proverb says, home will help me». But the 2012 World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk is in a fighting mood.

«I have plenty of rivals-Kamsky, Nepomnyaschyi, Jakovenko, Andreikin. But i made up my mind to play well!»