Prague Embraced By World Chess for the 7th time
Petr Boleslav has been the driving force behind the Prague International Chess Festival for seven years. In this interview, he shares the latest updates on the Festival’s preparations and reveals what exciting new features he and his team have planned.
The Festival starts in just a month. What stage are the preparations at, and what’s keeping you busiest right now?
The preparations are in their final stages, which also means things are getting increasingly more hectic. Some things can’t be done in advance. Right now, we’re finalizing the print materials, coordinating player arrivals, arranging transfers etc. I am probably looking forward to the whole thing finally starting more than most fans :).
What players does Prague have for us this year?
I think that both the Masters and Challengers tournaments have strong lineups once again. A major highlight is probably China’s current No. 1 and world No. 8, Wei Yi. He planned to attend twice before, but circumstances prevented it both times, so I’m really looking forward to finally seeing him. And, of course, there’s the last player we announced for the Masters—Anish Giri. A global chess star and multiple-time Candidates Tournament participant, he’ll be competing at the Don Giovanni Hotel for the first time.
The Challengers tournament is packed with new names. The top seed is Nodirbek Yakubboev, a member of the gold-medal-winning Uzbek team at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai. Right behind him are players like Chinese GM Ma Qun and Denmark’s No. 1, Jonas Buhl Bjerre. India is sending Divya Deshmukh, who also won Olympiad gold.
The PICF features the Masters, Challengers, Futures, and Open tournaments. But fans may not be as familiar with the side events. What have you prepared, and how can people sign up?
A packed morning program has proven successful in past years, so we’re going all in once again. Chess-thirsty fans can enjoy traditional rapid and blitz tournaments, pairs blitz, Fischer random chess, Basque chess, and bughouse. We were thrilled with last year’s turnout and hope to break some participation records this year.
As for side events, I highly recommend the lecture Šachy literární a nesmrtelné (Chess: in Literature and Immortal) by Vlado Ríša and Františka Vrbenská, taking place on Saturday, March 1st, at 18:00. They’ll explore the history of chess in literature and its reflections on society.
Every year, the Festival introduces exciting new features. What’s in store for fans and viewers this time?
The central theme of this year’s Festival is „movement“ along with the challenge „Let’s move it!“ One of the key events will be the discussion panel Geopolitické šachy aneb Jakou figurkou je Česko na šachovnici světa? (The Geopolitical Chess Game: What Piece Does Czechia Represent on the Global Chessboard?), taking place on March 3rd, 2025, from 19:00 to 20:30 at Kino 64 U Hradeb. Hosted by Čestmír Strakatý, the panel will feature economist, philosopher, and university lecturer Tomáš Sedláček; mathematician and social innovator Karel Janeček; social and cultural ecologist and university lecturer Ivan Rynda; and Slovak GM Ján Markoš, co-founder of the Socratic Institute.
For the first time, we’re also blending the royal game with the arts in a premiere dance performance created and directed exclusively for our Festival by choreographer Alena Pešková. This 20-minute piece will be performed during the Festival’s ceremonial opening as well as on March 3rd at Kino 64 U Hradeb.
And here’s a little bonus for our fans—the face of this year’s Festival will be Czech actor Marek Adamczyk. This is no random connection, he‘s a passionate chess player and will likely sit to the chessboard and compete in the Open tournament himself.
Where and when should fans come? Why should they experience world-class chess in person?
Prague will be embraced by the world chess for the 7th time and the centre of the event is Hotel Don Giovanni. Don’t miss the chance to see some of the world’s top grandmasters, listen to one of today’s best chess commentators, Sagar Shah, play a few games yourself, or simply enjoy the incredible atmosphere with fellow fans.
For twelve days, Hotel Don Giovanni will become a chess mecca—all thanks to you, our fans.
What does the Prague International Chess Festival mean to you personally?
I am happy to say it’s still a delight and I feel grateful for the opportunity to throw an event like this. But as the number of editions—and my age :) — increases, so does my sense of responsibility. I feel accountable not just for the smooth operation of the Festival, but also for our partners, the invited players, and, most importantly, the fans who follow and attend the event. It’s crucial for me to keep improving and to provide more than ten days of unforgettable experiences.
Over the past year, we’ve ramped up our organizational efforts, with our PR team working tirelessly to keep the Festival visible on social media. The Festival itself is the culmination of all that hard work—when we finally come together, give it our all, and make it an event to remember. I’m truly looking forward to it.
We’ve also welcomed new team members, which always brings fresh energy and inspiration.