Corfu Chess Club celebrates 100th anniversary
CORFU. Corfu Chess Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on 9 April!
Corfu Chess Club held an impressive celebration for the 100th anniversary of its founding on April 9, 1923. The celebration was held on Sunday afternoon at the the clubhouse in at the New Port.
The event was attended by Corfu MP Stefanos Gikas and Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands Mayor Meropi Ydraiou.
The President of the Board of Directors, Manos Nathanael, opened the event with a speech, presenting significant historical information about the oldest chess club in the country. He emphasized the great development of school and competitive chess in Corfu in recent years and analysed the multifaceted social work of the club and the prospects for its second century of existence.
The Mayor of Corfu, Ms. Hydraiou, also spoke,stressing the municipality's support for the club's work. Mr. Gikas also spoke, revealing that he had also been a chess player.
There followed an award ceremony for long-standing figures and chess players who have dedicated their lives to the operation and development of Corfu Chess Club, as well as younger chess players who have brought individual and team successes to the club. Among them were Yiannis Revithis, Nikos Skiadopoulos, Kostas Skordilis, Michalis Aggistirotis, and five-time Greek champion grandmaster Spyros Skembris.
After the ceremony, the candles on the impressive 100-piece cake were blown out by the oldest chess player in the club, Michalis Aggistirotis and the youngest chess player, four-year-old Elisavet, while the young female chess players and musicians of the club played Happy Birthday.
Following the cake cutting, two demonstration chess matches were played: two young female chess players played a game, while the club's chess player Spyros Makris played a blind game - blindfolded and without seeing the chessboard at all.
When the planned events had ended, due to the demand of the chess players present, an on-site rapid chess tournament was organised that lasted until late at night.
