Ust-Kamenogorsk                                                                     

 

On September 14, the Exhibition and Information Center of Ulba plant held blitz chess tournament dedicated to the 80th anniversary of V.F Konovalov, the Soviet public official, the first Minister of USSR Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Industry.

The purpose of the tournament is the promotion of the achievements of V. Konovalov in the development of the nuclear industry in Kazakhstan and Russia, the popularization of chess among Ulba plant workers and the city's population, increase sportsmanship. 

 

The tournament was held on the initiative of Rosatom Fuel Company "TVEL" (Russia), with the support of the administration and the trade union committee of Ulba plant. Among the guests of honor the tournament was attended by Konstantin Sokolov, the Vice-President of "TVEL". Addressing the participants of the event, Konstantin Sokolov said:

– All of us consider Vitali Fedorovich Konovalov as our college and a teacher. There are people among you who can call him as their friend. And this is not an exaggeration. As Vitali Fedorovich says Us-Kamenogorsk is a city of his youth where the best part of his life passed. This is the city where he gained invaluable experience in production activity and human relations.

 

Konstantin Sokolov thanked Yuri Shahvorostov, the Chairman of Ulba plant for the invitation to visit the Ulba Metallurgical Plant, for the organization and holding this chess blitz tournament. He wished brilliant victories to the participants of the competition and vivid impressions of the game to the fans -.

 

The event was attended by the plant chess players, employees of Ulba plant subsidiaries and veterans of the plant. According to the established format, blitz tournament was held at a regulated Swiss system in accordance with FIDE rules.

 

The tournament winner was awarded a cup custom-made by Chepetsky Mechanical Plant from zirconium - a unique metal used in the nuclear industry for the manufacture of fuel elements, fuel assemblies and other components of nuclear reactors. Prize-winners of the competition were awarded the valuable prizes.

The judges established incentive prizes for the participants, who took the fourth to sixth places. The most senior player of blitz tournament and the only woman who participated in it were awarded by special prizes. In addition, all contestants received prizes and commemoratives from Ulba plant and TVEL company. 

 

Jubilee of V.F Konovalov was widely celebrated at the enterprises of "TVEL" (Russia). Chess tournaments devoted to the 80th anniversary of the V. Konovalov, were held at "Chepetsky Mechanical Plant" JSC, "Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant" JSC and "Machine Building Plant" JSC.  The holding of such tournaments is not accidental, as Konovalov is the USSR Chess candidate master, Chess Champion of the Kazakh SSR in 1958 - 1960 years.
In the context of the anniversary celebrated a photo exhibition depicting the industrial activity and social work of V.F. Konovalov, during his time at the plant was opened in UMP Exhibition and Information center. The mobile photo exhibition "TVEL (Fuel Elements) Constructor" was held at the enterprises included in TVEL JSC

 

 

Vitaliy F. Konovalov (born in 1932) – is the Soviet public official. The First Minister of Atomic Energy and Industry of the USSR (1989 - 1991). Holder of the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor, the October Revolution, "Badge of Honor", laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1970, 1976), prize winner named for the Peter the Great.
From 1956 to 1975, V.F Konovalov worked for UMP. He has risen there from backup foreman to the workshop chief. V.F Konovalov made many developments for the output of tantalum products. In 1975 he became a candidate of technical sciences.
He worked as a director of Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, Machine-building Plant in Elektrostal, a chief of the 3rd Main Directorate of the Ministry of Medium Machine Building, USSR Deputy Minister of Medium Machine Building, Minister of Atomic Energy and Industry of the USSR, president of JSC "TVEL " corporation, an adviser to the President of JSC "TVEL".
The first chess tournament dedicated to the 70th anniversary of V.F Konovalov, was held at Ulba plant  in October 2002. Since 2006, the tournament has acquired the status of city competitions, where along with the factory athletes the players with category not lower than the 1 took part.