11.21.20 Chess players from the State of Maine will take on their counterparts in the Republic of Tuva, Siberia, Russia tonight, Saturday, November 21st at 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Each team is scheduled to field fifteen players for a two-game match with a time control of G/20.

Tuva is a remote, biodiverse Russian republic in southern Siberia, populated by traditionally nomadic, yurt-dwelling tribes. The Uvs Nuur Basin, shared with Mongolia, encompasses a bird-rich saline lake amid grassland steppes, cold deserts and high mountains home to endangered animals. The massive Yenisei River and its many tributaries traverse Tuva and its Soviet-influenced capital, Kyzyl. More information of the Republic of Tuva can be found >> HERE <<

This event is organized by Dr. Pavel Sulyandziga, a founder and current president of the International Indigenous Fund for Development and Solidarity (Batani) Foundation. Batani was created as an initiative of indigenous peoples in 2004 to organize development projects for indigenous peoples in Russia. For more information of the work of the Batani Foundation please visit their official website.

Thanks to Dr. Sulyandziga for bringing chess players from opposite sides of the globe together for this friendly competition.