Ostap Bender, while playing chess was promising the residents of the village Vasiuk holding New York-Vasiuk international tournament, but how all this ended everyone knows perfectly, who has read immortal novel by authors  Ilya Ilf and Yevgeni Petrov.
Playing chess and holding the tournaments between planets in Vasiuk is understandable, but even Bender could not imagine where chess fans gather in Kharkiv.
In Tbilisi you often can come across chess or backgammon fans in squares. Sometimes even can see blitz-tournament and you even might feel yourself at international tournament.
As it was appeared, chess fans like to gather in Kharkiv too, but do not you ask where?.. in the metro. If anyone told it I would not believe, but I saw it with my own eyes.
Going to the official fan-zone of Euro-2012 stopped at “Derzhprom” station and what I see… there are desks with chess boards on them and besides men one lady are sitting and playing chess. In comparison with Ostap Bender, it goes without saying that they know much more chess move. I even thought to talk to them, but they were involved in playing so much that I changed my mind. Of course I did not miss the chance and took the photos. So, “royal game” is played in metro too… it is newsworthy that in Kharkiv metro in comparison with how weather outside is very chilly.  
 

Lasha Tabagari special correspondent of  “World Sport” from Kharkiv

Author’s photo