Open University Chess Tournament at Odessa National Medical University

On April 7, 2025, the Open University Chess Tournament was held at Odessa National Medical University on the initiative of the University Student Government and the Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Physical Education. The event was attended by students from 1st to 6th year of medical and dentistry faculties, interns, as well as university teachers.

The tournament began with a grand opening, during which the Head of the Department of Physical Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine and Physical Education, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Olga Yushkivska, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. She emphasized the importance of intellectual development along with physical activity, noted the role of chess in forming a thinking strategy, and also thanked everyone for their active participation in the sports life of the university.

The greetings were joined by the head of the student government, Sofia Matiushenko, and the head of the sports and recreation commission of the medical faculty, Yulia Khrapova. In their speeches, they wished the players fair competition, pleasant communication, and new acquaintances.

The competition was held in the Swiss system format, which allowed each participant to play several games with different opponents. The tournament was organized in a spacious auditorium with all the necessary conditions for a comfortable game: sufficient lighting, silence, chessboards, and clocks. About 20 people participated.

According to the results of the competition, the tournament winners were:

1st place – Marko KOLOMIETS, young scientist
2nd place – Mykhailo HULAK, 2nd year student, group 8
3rd place – Vadym KRAVCHUK, 1st year student, group 11.
The winners received diplomas and commemorative awards.

After a difficult competition for the title of the best chess player at Odessa National Medical University, the participants shared their impressions. For example, Denis Khvyschuk, a 4th-year student at the medical faculty, said:

“Chess helps develop logic and attentiveness. The tournament was interesting, I especially liked the opportunity to play with participants from different courses and faculties.”

The organizers note that the event received a positive response from the participants and plan to make the tournament an annual event. It promotes the development of logical thinking, endurance and mutual respect, which are important both in education and in the future professional activities of medical students.