People behind the boards
Who teaches, referees and develops chess education in Ashdod.
Head coach Michael’s chess classes at Duna
Michael is head coach of the Tsameret-Duna chess school. He teaches beginners and advanced players at Duna Community Centre in Ashdod.
Mikhail Tsygankov · kindergarten chess
Mikhail is a preschool educator and a coach at the Tsameret-Duna chess school, where he leads the preschool programme. He holds a FIDE title and licence. He introduces children to the pieces in kindergarten and organised and refereed a tournament in Ashdod for around forty children finishing kindergarten.
Anton Rakhmilevich · national chess master
When Rubén Gallego suggested a simultaneous exhibition for a small group in Ashdod, Anton was the player he had in mind. That idea grew into the Tsameret-Duna chess club. At the opening, Anton and Boris Maryasin walked from board to board to play the guests. Anton also serves on the association’s audit committee.
Boris Maryasin · chess and mathematical thinking
International Master Boris Maryasin is developing the chess part of the club’s teaching method alongside Sofia Ilizarov, who leads the mathematics side. He also played in the Shavuot tournament in May.
Arkady Ryabukhin · chief arbiter
Arkady directs Ashdod’s municipal chess club. He helped us plan the summer series and was chief arbiter at our Shavuot rapid tournament on 22 May. He also teaches our chess classes with Beit Halochem for Israeli veterans with disabilities and their families.
Shabtai Ishmailov
Vice president of the Tsameret-Duna Chess Club. Raises funds for the club’s projects.
Shabtai helped us plan the chess club from the start. When our first shipment of equipment arrived, he came to the port with us. We unloaded the boxes together. We remember it as roughly four hundred kilos of cargo altogether.
Photos of Shabtai
A cup for Magnus
Shabtai unpacks a trophy at Duna and imagines presenting it to Magnus Carlsen. A young player brings him back to the board.
Before the first moveThe people who set the tables
When you arrive for a game, the pieces are already in place. Someone has set up the tables, put the kettle on for tea or coffee and remembered the stickers we give the children after their chess lesson. When everyone goes home, someone stays to put the tables away. Even the giant knight that everyone notices had to be brought in and set in place. Every hour our volunteers give has a person and a story behind it. To everyone who gives that time, thank you for your love of chess, of our Tsameret-Duna club and of our association, Tsameret Hashivyon.
Ashdod in pictures · Shabtai Ishmailov
Before the first move
Unloading at the port
Shabtai came to the port with us for our first shipment of chess equipment. We unloaded the boxes together.
Rooks in the corners
At Duna, Shabtai sets out the pieces with the volunteers. The children can start as soon as they arrive.
A pawn steps out
A small hand reaches across the board. A pawn leaves its starting square. Across the table, the girl considers her reply.
One box left
The games have started. There’s one last empty box to put away, but two ginger ears are poking over the edge. We’ll have to wait until Simba wakes up.
The shipment in photographs
