Welcome to Serbia

As someone who until recently actively played on 64 chess squares, I am very happy to welcome the arrival of the best chess players of the Old Continent to Belgrade and Serbia. For a good reason, this city has always been considered as one of the chess metropolises in the world. This is the place where some of the most spectacular matches or tournaments of recent history of this ancient game have been played. This is the place to which some of the greatest chess masters flocked as if to a place of pilgrimage. Generations of top chess players originated from here. Serbia nourishes chess tradition. Serbia is a country in which everybody knows and plays chess. Serbia highly appreciates chess players as sportsmen with first-class skills. We are looking forward to a new, big event – European Women’s Championship which will revive chess in Belgrade.

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, it is my pleasure to welcome you here. In this country and in this city you are not guests. You are simply at your chess home.
Welcome!

PhD Alisa Maric
Minister of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia
Chess Grandmaster