On 7 September, the main building’s assembly hall hosted the third edition of the international blitz tournament, TalTech Blitz, which formed part of the Tallinn Chess Festival.
Over 100 chess players took part in the tournament, including 19 grandmasters representing 15 different countries. Estonia’s elite was represented by the legendary Jaan Ehlvest, Grandmaster Kaido Külaots, and TalTech co-founder and alumnus, Grandmaster Aleksandr Volodin from the School of Engineering.
TalTech staff and students also participated – including Vice-Rector Erik Puura, who achieved a respectable score of 6 points out of 15.
The tournament was won by Grandmaster Karen H. Grigoryan, scoring 13 points out of 15. Taking second place was Grandmaster Valery Kazakouski with 12 points, and third place went to Estonian Grandmaster and TalTech alumnus Aleksandr Volodin with 10.5 points.
TalTech Blitz offered participants and spectators intense and inspiring games, reaffirming the university’s position as a promoter of both academic and sporting culture.
TalTech also runs a weekly chess club for staff and students in room U02-407. The club is led by Nikita Rõtšagov, Estonia’s reigning junior champion and a student of the School of Business and Governance.