On September 17, continuing a noble tradition, our Foundation participated in the World Chess Festival organized by Judit Polgár. This year’s festival was part of the 45th Chess Olympiad, held in Budapest from September 10-23. The Chess Festival took place in the prestigious setting of the Hungarian National Gallery.
A team of more than 30 high school and university students from the Foundation volunteered at both the festival and the Chess Olympiad held at the BOK Sports Hall. They welcomed guests, assisted in setting up the venues, and helped run the chess games. Many of them are seasoned volunteers, having participated in the event for years. During breaks, they eagerly tested their chess skills at various tables.
We are grateful to have been part of this extraordinary event!
“Tuesday was an exciting and eventful day for the Foundation’s freshmen, as students from Mohács, Szeged, and Kaposvár attended the World Chess Festival at the National Gallery. To participate, the children had to submit projects on the theme of ‘inspiration,’ which were judged and awarded in various categories. The winners received their prizes at the festival. In addition, the children learned a lot about chess, saw Judit Polgár play a simultaneous match, and admired the works of famous Hungarian painters.”
— Dániel Varga, Mentor
Through a Child’s Eyes:
“Yesterday, we had a lot of great experiences as we traveled to Budapest. In the morning, we visited the Tropicarium, where we saw many exotic animals and colorful fish, walked through a tunnel under sharks, and the bravest among us even petted a stingray. Afterward, we went to the World Chess Festival and learned many interesting things about chess.”
— Maja Makai, Kaposvár 3rd Group
“We had a super day on Tuesday! First, we visited the Tropicarium, where I liked the sharks the most, but petting the stingrays was also a unique experience—it felt like touching rubber or slime. When we arrived at the World Chess Festival, I was surprised by how many people were there. Despite the crowd, we quickly got into the activities, as there were many engaging tables. For completing the tasks, we received stamps, and those who collected them all got a prize. The highlight of the day for me was the award ceremony. I was thrilled to win first place with my project and proud of my teammates, as several of us were recognized. It felt great to stand on stage and receive congratulations.”
— Emese Ráczga, Mohács 3rd Group
“We also got to try star chess. We had previously learned the game, and now the inventor’s wife explained important strategies during a match. Some of us had our Rubik’s Cubes signed by Ernő Rubik, and many of us tried to solve the puzzles. I managed to solve the pyramid cube. Robot programming also looked interesting—next year, we’ll definitely try that too.”
— Richárd Budai, Hunor Gyuraskó, Szeged 1st Group
