Dear Visitor, The Lékó & rapid chess game has been hosted by the City of Miskolc for the fifth time with the greatest pleasure. This time, Péter Leko's opponent will be the 15th World Champion of chess, Viswanathan Anand. The prestigious duel is going to be fought, as usual, at the National Theatre of Miskolc.

iskolc is the third biggest city in Hungary; the
Miskolc inhabitants is the third biggest city in Hungary; the inhabitants are fond of culture and sports very much here. In the last few years, great athletes from Europe and all over the world have met here and tried a fall with each other for example in ice-hockey, handball, basketball, karate, boxing, speedway etc. Two of our frequented events have become traditional, namely the Bartók+ International Opera Festival in summer and the more and more popular Kocsonya Festival in wintertime.
Chess has long-standing traditions in Miskolc; the City has produced multiple-winning teams in national championships, as well as a number of noted players on the international scene. We are proud to be the first city in Hungary where Peter Leko launched his first chess school. Our grandmaster took up duels against such icons of chess as Michael Adams, Anatoly Karpov, Magnus Carlsen or the absolute world champion of chess, Vladimir Kramnik.

I do hope that, besides watching the exciting chess game, you will have time to become familiar with the natural beauties of Miskolc, as well.

I wish all our visitors and guests a pleasant, valuable chess experiences and a very good time in Miskolc.

Sándor Káli
Mayor of Miskolc
Main patron of the Lékó & Anand chess game

 

Dear Guests, As the English writer, Alan Alexander Milne says: „That chess was invented by a woman is obvious, for why else should the queen be the most powerful piece of them all?” The point I started my greetings with that thought - although we know that chess just as other kind of sports is mainly carried

 out by men - is that women are also able to achieve serious results. Let us think at this point of Zsuzsa Veroci, arbiter of our event or the world famous Polgar-sisters. Accordingly, if a woman can be successful beside the chess board why could not a woman be the main organizer of such a great event? It is a real pleasure for me that, with my work, I could support this very special event for the city of Miskolc.

We have, together with my team, organized a number of successful sport events in Miskolc in the recent years. European Cup in walking, Ice Hockey Youth World Championships, great international tournaments etc.. From the reflections we had been informed about after the events it was clear for us that all the participants had left our city with pleasant memories and impressive feelings in their hearts. I am convinced that our most important task is to secure that the host, Peter Leko, who can already be counted as a habitant of Miskolc and Viswanathan Anand get all the support and assistance that make them able to concentrate on the chess, exclusively, during the days they are spending here.

The American writer, Benjamin Franklin created a three-elements rule of chess which is very similar to our organizing activity:
„We learn by Chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs the habit of hoping for a favorable chance, and that of persevering in the secrets of resources.”

I wish you a pleasant stay in Miskolc and a good time during the event.

Katalin Tömösi
Main organizer of the Lékó & Anand chess game