Chess struggles at LAW - Polish Army Chess Championships

Details

As part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the School of Eagles, the Polish Army Chess Championships were held April 7-11, bringing together the best military chess players from across the country. The event, organized with great professionalism, not only provided sporting excitement, but also provided an excellent opportunity to integrate representatives from various units of the Polish Army and to showcase our University's new sports facility, perfectly suited for such an event.

The event was organized by the Aviation Department, headed by Lt. Col. Res. Dr. Witold Sarnowski, and supported by the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff of the Polish Army, the General Command of the RSZ and the Polish Chess Federation.

More than a hundred players competed in the tournament. The tournament consisted of two parts: a classic chess tournament and an instant chess tournament - played in a Swiss system over a distance of 9 rounds, which allowed to determine the individual and team champion of the Polish Army and at the same time the representation for the 35th NATO Chess Championships. Meanwhile, the proper course of the competition was supervised by a team of experienced referees: Mr. Maciej Cybulski and Mr. Marcin Orzechowski.

After five days of fierce competition, the title of champion of the Polish Army was won by Lieutenant Marcin Pietruszewski of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division named after King Kazimierz Jagiellon from Olsztyn, who left no illusions to his rivals, presenting a very high level of strategic thinking and composure.

In both tournaments, prizes were awarded in two categories: individual and team:

CLASSIC Chess TURNAMENT

individual category:

  • 1st place – por. Marcin PIETRUSZEWSKI of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division
  • 2nd place - por. Kamil CICHY of the 18th Mechanized Division
  • 3rd place - kpr. pchor. Patryk MICHAŁOWSKI of the Military University of Technology

team category:

place 1 - the Military University of Technology team composed of:

  • kpr. pchor. Patryk MICHAŁOWSKI
  • por. Mateusz FILIPOW
  • kpr. pchor. Piotr PIERZAK

place 2 - team of the 16th Pomeranian Mechanized Division, consisting of:

  • por. Marcin PIETRUSZEWSKI
  • kpr. rez. Dariusz JACYNA
  • mł. chor. Rafał MANCEWICZ

place 3 - team of the 18th Mechanized Division composed of:

  • por. Kamil CICHY
  • st. szer. spec. Jakub KOCZOT
  • st. szer. Kamil KRAJEWSKI

TURN OF THE FLYING DRAWING

individual category:

  • place 1 - st. szer. spec. Tomasz HADZICKI from the 91st Logistics Battalion
  • place 2 - st. kpr. pchor. Dominik TYRKA from the Military University of Technology
  • place 3 – szer. pchor.. Maciej SZAFRAŃSKI from the Airborne Military Academy

team category:

place 1 - Military University of Technology team composed of:

  • st. kpr. pchor. Dominik TYRKA
  • st. kpr. pchor. Patryk MICHAŁOWSKI
  • kpr. pchor. Michał CHOINA

place 2 - Military Air Force Academy team composed of:

  • ppłk. rez. dr inż. Witold SARNOWSKI
  • szer. pchor. Maciej SZAFRAŃSKI
  • kpr. pchor. Michał BOCHENEK

place 3 - Inspectorate of Armed Forces Support team composed of:

  • st. szer. spec. Tomasz HADZICKI
  • Wojciech WARUGA
  • st. sierż. Radosław CYGAN

The organizers stressed that the tournament not only promoted the sporting spirit among soldiers, but was also a testament to the excellent cooperation between the Academy and other military institutions.

The championship ended with a prize-giving ceremony attended by the Rector-Commander of the Military Aviation Academy, Brigadier General Pilot Dr. Krzysztof Cur. The players received cups, medals, commemorative diplomas and gifts. 

Chess is a game that fits perfectly with military values - it requires patience, concentration and anticipation of the opponent's moves. We are pleased to have been able to host this event.