Sozonov Award for 2019

Award named after Evgeniy Sozonov is a private national annual award. It was established by Olena Boytsun in 2013 with the aim of supporting talented children aged between 10 to 16 years old, who show good results in both chess and school studies.

In 2019, the Award was presented for the fifth time and for the first time it was given in two age categories: from 10 to 13 years (inclusive) and from 14 to 16 years (inclusive). Applications for participation in the award competition were accepted from November 28, 2019 to December 21, 2019, the results were announced on December 28, 2019.

28 applications were received for participation in the competition, 21 of them in the age category of 10-13 years, 7 in the age category of 14-16 years. Boys made up 68% of the participants, while girls – 32%.

For 2019, the Sozonov Award was awarded to one winner in the age category from 10 to 13 years (amount of the prize – 10,000 hryvnias) and one in the age category from 14 to 16 years (amount of the prize – 10,000 hryvnias). Five runners-up were also determined in each age category.

The results of the competition for the 2019 Sozonov Award

Age category from 10 to 13 years

Winner

Mitusov Semen (Kramatorsk)

Semen Mitusov

(Kramatorsk, age at the time of receiving the award: 13 years, CM)
Trainer: Litvinov E.

Semen Mitusov studies in the 8th grade of the Kramatorsk general secondary education institution No. 22, his favourite subject is mathematics. He repeatedly took prize places at the city Olympiad in mathematics. In addition, he works on improving his knowledge of the English language. He has been playing chess for 8 years at the Chess School named after A.V. Momot (Kramatorsk) with trainer Evgeny Litvinov. Has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in chess. Champion and prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine and Europe in various age categories, in 2019 he became the champion of Ukraine under 14 years of age and took 3rd place at the European Championship U14 in Slovenia. In addition to chess, Semen is engaged in folk dances, is a soloist of the “Viterets” ensemble and a laureate of many dance competitions (including international ones). He also plays volleyball in his spare time.

“

The Sozonov Award, established by the UCF “Chess for Children”, is an opportunity for a child to receive a worthy reward for his efforts and successes. Thank you for choosing Semen as the winner! It’s inspiring!

“

Olena Mitusova

mother of Semen Mitusov

Runners-up (10-13 years)

  • Gryga Daryna (Horodok, Lviv region)
  • Kovalsky Roman (Lviv)
  • Manko Maria (Kyiv)
  • Petrenko Maryna (Berezivka village, Zhytomyr region)
  • Samunenkov Ihor (Kyiv)

Daryna Gryga

(Horodok, Lviv region, age at the time of receiving the award: 11 years, CM)
Trainer: Grekh A.

Daryna Gryga studies in the 6th grade of the Lviv Gymnasium “Prestige”, her favourite subjects are the Ukrainian language and mathematics. Daryna is a prizewinner of the regional stages of the All-Ukrainian student Olympiads in mathematics and the Ukrainian language. She has been playing chess for 7.5 years in the Horodok Chess Club “E2-E4” with coach Andrii Grekh. Daryna has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in chess. She is a champion and prize-winner of all-Ukrainian chess competitions among girls in various age categories. In 2019, she became the champion of the Lviv region among girls under 14 years old. In her spare time, she studies foreign languages.

Roman Kovalsky

(Lviv, age at the time of receiving the award: 12 years, 1st rank in chess according to the Ukrainian system)
Trainer: Grabinsky V.

Roman Kovalsky studies in the 7th grade of the Lviv Ukrainian Private Gymnasium, his favourite subjects are algebra and English. He has been playing chess for 4 years at the Children and Youth Sports School “Debut” (Lviv) with coach Volodymyr Grabinsky, he has a 1st rank in chess (according to the Ukrainian system). He is a champion and prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine and Europe in various age categories. Attends events of the Ukrainian scout organisation “Plast”, attends swimming and acting classes. He is very fond of football.

Maria Manko

 (Kyiv, age at the time of receiving the award: 12 years, CM)
Trainer: Nikolaev L.

Maria Manko studies in the 6th grade of the Kyiv Gymnasium of Languages of Asia No. 1, favourite subjects: English, Hindi, Ukrainian, physical education. She has been playing chess for 6 years, and has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in chess. She trains at the Chess and Drafts School “Avangard” (Kyiv) with coach Nikolaev Leonid. Maria is a champion and prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine and Europe among girls in various age categories. In 2019, at the final of the championship of Ukraine among girls under 12 years old, she took 1st place in classical chess and 1st place in rapid, and at the European championship in rapid and blitz among girls under 12 years old, she won 2nd place in rapid. She attends the table tennis sports section.

Maryna Petrenko

(Berezivka village, Zhytomyr region, age at the time of receiving the award: 10 years, 1st rank in chess according to the Ukrainian system)
Trainer: Dumansky Y.

Maryna Petrenko studies in the 5th grade of Zhytomyr City Humanitarian Gymnasium No. 23, her favourite subjects are English and German. She has letters of commendation for high academic achievements, a diploma of the winner of the All-Ukrainian English Language Game. She has been playing chess for 5 years at the Zhytomyr Children and Youth Sports School No. 1 with coach Yaroslav Dumansky, she has the 1st category in chess (according to the Ukrainian system). Maryna is the winner and prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine among girls of the respective age categories. She is fond of drawing and needlework.

Ihor Samunenkov

(Kyiv, age at the time of receiving the award: 10 years, CM)
Trainer: Baklan V.

Ihor Samunenkov studies in the 4th grade of specialised school No. 24, named after O. Bilash with an in-depth study of foreign languages in Kyiv, his favourite subject is mathematics. He has letters of commendation for high academic achievements, is a laureate of the international science interactive student competition “Kolosok 2017”. He has been playing chess for 4 years with coach Baklan Volodymyr, and has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports of Ukraine in chess. Ihor is a multiple champion and prize-winner of Ukrainian and world championships in various age categories, in 2019 he became the European champion among schoolchildren under 11 years of age and took 2nd place at the World Rapid Championship under 10 years of age.

Age category from 14 to 16 years

Winner

Hryshchenko Kamila (Kramatorsk)

Kamila Hryshchenko

(Kramatorsk, age at the time of receiving the award: 16 years, Master of Sports of Ukraine)
Trainer: Kornitskiy A.

Kamila Hryshchenko is studying in the 11th grade of Kramatorsk Secondary School No. 10, her favourite subject is mathematics. She took part in student competitions: mathematics and connoisseurs of the Ukrainian language and history. She has been playing chess for 11 years with coach Andrii Kornitskiyi at the O. Momot Regional Chess Club in Kramatorsk, she has the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine. Kamila is a champion and prize-winner of the championships of Ukraine and the world among girls in various age categories. In 2019, she became the champion of Ukraine among girls under 18 years of age and won gold at the world blitz championship among girls under 18 years of age. Kamila graduated from music school in piano class. She is the winner of the international competition “Constellation of Sviatohirsk” in the art of playing the piano. Kamila plays football – she is an active member of the Kramatorsk City Women’s Football League. She also plays chess with children as a coach and actively participates in charity events to raise funds to help children. Kamila is a permanent active participant in collecting aid for homeless animals.

Update from 2023: due to martial law, Kamila is temporarily living in the UK and continues her online studies at the Donbas State Machine-Building Academy, majoring in Computer Science. She actively trains and participates in chess composition competitions on the international arena. She has the following results: second place among women at the tournament “Solving World Championship” (Greece, 2021), first place among women at the tournament “Open Solving Tournament of WCCC” (UAE, 2022), second place among women at the tournament “45th World Congress of Chess Composition” (UAE, 2022).

“

I have been friends with the Chess for Children Foundation for many years. I became a runner-up of the prize twice – I was on the shortlist, and in 2019 I became the winner of the Sozonov Award among chess players under 16 years old. I am very grateful to the Foundation for the opportunity to feel part of the big chess family. I especially liked when the previous prizes were awarded, then we were gathered in a large friendly company, we talked about our journey in chess, some met old friends, some met new ones – it was very exciting! Thanks to the award received in 2019, I will be able to participate in international competitions in the summer of 2020. And this will be another step in conquering the chess Olympus! Thanks to the Foundation for the hard work and help!

“

Kamila Hryshchenko

Runners-up (14-16 years)

  • Bilych Olexiy (Chernivtsi)
  • Hulka Valentyn (Chortkiv, Ternopil region)
  • Lyshchenko Polina (Nova Kakhovka, Kherson Region)
  • Prydun Andriy (Lviv)
  • Yuryk Rostyslav (Kamianka, Cherkasy region)

Olexiy Bilych

(Chernivtsi, age at the time of receiving the award: 15 years, FM)
Trainer: Bilych I.

Oleksiy Bilych studies at the general school 1-3 grades #11 in Chernivtsi, his favourite subjects are physical education and geography. He has been playing chess for 8 years, the coach is Ivan Bilych. He has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports and master FIDE. Winner and prize-winner of all-Ukrainian chess tournaments of different ages. Took part in the championship of Ukraine under 16: classical chess, rapid, blitz – 3 silver medals. In addition to chess, he is engaged in swimming and athletics.

Valentyn Hulka

(Chortkiv, Ternopil region, age at the time of receiving the award: 14 years, CM)
Trainers: Khabinets I., Firman N.

Valentyn Hulka studies remotely at the “Optima” Education Center, his favourite subjects are the history of Ukraine and biology. He has been playing chess for 3 years at the Lviv Chess Academy, has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports. His coaches are Khabinets Ivan and Firman Nazar. Valentyn is the winner and prize-winner of all-Ukrainian and regional championships in various age categories. In 2019, he won the championship of the Lviv region among boys under 16 years old.

Polina Lyshchenko

(Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, age at the time of receiving the award: 14 years, CM)
Trainer: Telman V.

Polina Lyshchenko studies in the 9th grade of the Novokakhov Technical and Economic Lyceum, her favourite subject is English. She is a winner of many student competitions. She has been playing chess for 6 years with coach Telman Valerii at the Kherson Children and Youth Sports School. Polina has the title of Candidate for Master of Sports. She is champion and prize-winner of all-Ukrainian championships in various age categories. In 2019, she took 3rd place in the championship of Ukraine in classical chess among girls under 14 years old. Polina graduated from the choreographic department of the Novokakhov Children’s School of Arts. Also she likes to play football.

Andrii Prydun

(Lviv, age at the time of receiving the award: 15 years, FM)
Trainer: Zhelyandinov V.

Andrii Prydun is studying in the 10th grade of the Lviv Physical and Mathematical Boarding Lyceum at the Lviv National University named after I. Franko, his favourite subject is algebra. He has been playing chess for 8 years, has the title of Master of Sports and FIDE Master. He is training at the Children and Youth Sports School “DEBUT” with the coach Victor Zhelyandinov. Andrii is a champion and prize-winner of championships of Ukraine in various age categories. In 2019, he became the winner of the Ukrainian Classical Chess Championship among boys under 16 years of age and the winner of the Lviv Tradition International Chess Tournament (IM-Group), where he fulfilled the norms of IM and received the title of FIDE Master. Also he likes to play table tennis.

Rostyslav Yuryk

(Kamianka, Cherkasy region, age at the time of receiving the award: 14 years, 1st rank in chess(according to the Ukrainian system)
Trainer: Khomenko K.

Rostyslav Yuryk studies at Kamensky Lyceum No. 1, his favourite subjects are algebra, English, physics, computer science. He is repeated prize winner of subject Olympiads, student competitions and quizzes. He has been playing chess for 7 years at the Kamensky Children and Youth Sports School. He trains with Khomenko Kostyantyn and has the 1st rank in chess (according to the Ukrainian system). Rostyslav is the winner and prize-winner of all-Ukrainian and local chess tournaments of various age categories. In addition to chess, Rostislav practises judo and has a blue belt. The boy takes part in the public life of the city and is a member of the youth public organisation “New Generation of Kamianshchyna”.

The ceremony for 2019 Sozonov Award

On December 6, 2020, the ceremony of awarding the Sozonov Award for 2019 took place in an online format. The ceremony was attended by winners Kamila Hryshchenko (14-16 years old) and Semen Mitusov (10-13 years old), and runners-up Hulka Valentyn, Kovalsky Roman, Manko Maria, Yurik Rostyslav, Samunenkov Ihor, Petrenko Maryna, Bilych Olexiy, Lyshchenko Polina, Pridun Andrii.

In a conversation with the founder of the the Award named after Evgeniy Sozonov Olena Boytsun, young Ukrainian chess players talked about themselves, their plans and dreams, studies and chess competitions, and assessed the role of technology, in particular artificial intelligence, in world development.

The video broadcast of the ceremony can be viewed at the link.