The most beautiful move on the chessboard: the fair gesture of the Czech players inspires the world

The gesture of the Czech chess team has gone around the world. At the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest in 2024, the opponents from India missed the start of the game due to traffic delays, the Czech players refused to start the clock and decided to wait until they arrived. The prize for the feat from the Czech Fair Play Club in Prague and the prize from the European Fair Play Movement in Greece was awarded to the Czech chess team of Julie Movsesjan, Natálie Kaňáková, Tereza Rodshtein, Martina Kořenová and Kristýna Novosadová.

Olympic spirit in ancient Olympia

For their gesture, the chess players received the prestigious award of the European Fair Play Movement. The award ceremony took place symbolically in the cradle of Olympic ideals - in ancient Olympia in Greece. "It was definitely a very special experience. It was symbolic that we were in ancient Olympia and it was about the Olympics," says Kristýna Novosadová.

The programme also included the Congress of the European Fair Play Movement. "We stayed there for several days, and the European awards were also part of the congress," adds Natálie Kaňáková, who has been playing chess for over twenty years.

Informal atmosphere and friendly meetings

According to the players, the gala evening had not only a festive but also a very pleasant atmosphere. "On the one hand it was festive, on the other hand it was a bit informal, because the ceremony took place outdoors. Everyone was very friendly. We took away an experience not only from the place, but also because of the people we met there," says Tereza Rodshtein. "To meet so many athletes, both active and less active, was beautiful."

But only half of the team made the trip to the ceremony in Olympia. "We split in half. The captain of the team, Tomáš Polák, went with me and Julia Movsesjan to the Czech Olympic Committee's Fair Play Awards, so it was three and three," says Martina Kořenová. "The ones who were supposed to take care of the children were a bit left out of Greece," she adds with a laugh. "I had the disadvantage that I wanted my husband to be present at the announcement and he wanted to be present too. My son also had his 17th birthday, so I knew I was the last one in line."

Chess as a family tradition

Chess also has a strong personal dimension for many of the players. For Tereza Rodshtein, the passion for chess is literally a family tradition. "We are a chess family - in our family the children cannot escape not learning chess. Whether they'll take to them in the future, we'll see," she says.

Kristýna Novosadová was taught to play chess by her parents. "I saw them on holidays playing. I am an only child, they played together, I watched and got bored. I wanted to learn it and they said no and no, that I was small. I was all the more diligent when they taught me how to play afterwards," she says. Natálie Kaňáková started early: "At the age of four she was already in kindergarten, where there was a chess club. I enjoyed it, and I have been playing chess for over twenty years since then."

Similarly, Julie Movsesjan explains how chess comes naturally into family life. "My son is still playing football, but he's also starting to take an interest in chess," she reveals.

Chess and fair play: inspiration for all

Even in an individual sport like chess, team spirit and fair play have their place. The gesture of the Czech chess players is a strong message not only for the chess world, but for the whole sport. It is a reminder that real victory is not only the result, but also honour and respect for the opponent.