A large-scale children's stage of the Russian Chess Cup will take place in Verkhnyaya Salda

01.03.2026 — News

SVERDLOVSK REGION

One of the largest children's stages of the Russian Chess Cup, the Titan Cup, will be held in Verkhnyaya Salda from March 3 to 10. Winners and runners-up of the tournament will be awarded distinctive cups and medals crafted from pure titanium, along with cash prizes. The prize fund of the tournament will exceed 500,000 rubles.

In 2024, Verkhnyaya Salda first hosted a stage of the Russian Chess Cup, bringing together 242 young chess players. The subsequent season saw an even broader scope for the Titan Cup: 437 chess players from 20 regions of the country gathered in the titanium capital of Russia.

In 2026, over 400 young athletes will compete in the Boys and Girls Under-9, 11, 13, and 15 age categories. The Children's Cup program, which is part of the annual calendar of the Chess Federation of Russia and the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, consists of eight tournaments.

The tournament is organized by the Chess Federation of the Sverdlovsk Region, VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, and Mikhail Shelkov's (shareholder of the major titanium-producing company) Empathy Charitable Foundation. The Chess Federation of Russia, the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports of the Sverdlovsk Region also provide support for the competition, VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation Press Service reported to RusBusinessNews.

Mikhail Shelkov emphasizes the significance of ongoing support in fostering the success of young talents. The Empathy Charitable Foundation alongside the titanium corporation create diverse chess initiatives, providing financial and organizational support, "We're observing an increasing number of outstanding children in the region, so we strive to further encourage their progress, and at the Titan Cup we bring together the top competitors from all over the country."

The Titan Cup traditionally offers its participants and spectators an online broadcast of the competition featuring professional commentators, an off-tournament entertainment program, master classes, games, and a variety of other activities.