A press conference for the 10th International RSSU Cup, the festival known as the Moscow Open 2014, was held in the ITAR-TASS press center. The festival will take place from Jan 30 to Feb 9, 2014 on the Russian State Social University campus. 

In attendance were the the Moscow department of physical education and Sport deputy leader, Alexei Pyzhkov; Moscow Chess Federation  president, Vladimir Palikhata; RSSU rector-founder and Moscow Chess Federation honorary president, Vasiliy Ivanovich Zhukov; International School Chess Union president and tournament director, Alexander Kostiev; and Moscow Sport and Spectator Event Directorate director, Alexander Buzdakov.

“I have the honor of each year attending the splendid ceremonies of this outstanding event and would like to say that in Moscow chess is given particular attention. Within the bounds of wonderful festival are held numerous competitions for young chess players - and these are the greater, and most promising, part of competitors, on whom we place our hopes”, said Alexei Pyzhkov in his opening statement. He mentioned how well the festival fits into the system of the Russian sport in regards to the opening of the Olympic Games. Just as the festival finishes, the games begin. “How about that—a big  chess welcome, then passing the baton down to Sochi.”

Moscow Chess Federation president Vladimir Palikhata spoke of how for ten days around 1800 chess players from all around the world will face each other at the chessboards. The annual turnout growth is from 5 to 10 percent. The head of the MCF made particular mention that this is the first year for the festival to have the Moscow Championship Superfinal. “I considerate it a great accomplishment that we were able to gather such a strong turnout. Among them are chess players of world renown - Alexandra Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina,  Olga Girya, Alexander Grischuk, Alexander Morozevich, Ian Nepomniachtchi.” The head of the MCF thanked all partners—the leadership of Moskomsport, RSSU and Vasiliy Ivanovich Zhukov personally, the Russian Chess Federation and the World Chess Federation—for all their years of festival support.

“We have always been confident that chess is the most royal, presidential type of sport; that by developing chess we may tap into our intellectual resources, allowing us to do the most efficient methods, that it constitutes an element of a healthy lifestyle,” said Vasiliy Ivanovich Zhukov, RSSU rector-founder and MCF president.

Vasiliy Ivanovich spoke of how for RSSU chess has become a most important instrument in creating the universities wide recognition and image, being Russia's youngest state university. “We could not spend centuries repeating the path of MSU and the top Russian universities, so we took an accelerated pace with your help.” Vasiliy Ivanovich also pointed out students graduating from RSSU have become leaders of Russian chess, such as Valentina Gunina, Olga Girya (attending the press conference), Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Sergei Karjakin, who has collected a great many titles, Sergei Karjakin truly is a national asset. “It is they who are the glory and pride of our university's sport.”

Tournament director Alexander Kostiev remarked that the tournament has gathered a fantastic number of chess players—about 1800—from 32 of the world's countries.  In their numbers are about 100 international grandmasters. In addition, the children's sections are now attracting not only youngsters from the  CIS countries, but Europe and Asia as well.

Alexander Nikolayevich announced that much work was done in cooperation with international partners. Consequentially additional prizes have been added.  Now winners of the senior section receive a grant from the organizers of the 2014 European Championship in Portugal in the form of a 50% discount on the hotel, the best of the amateurs receive an invitation to the summer tournament in the Czech Republic and the winners of the student section receive an invitation the the student tournament in Poland.

“From the perspective of the festival organizers, we're ready to to. Over the years the team has formed and works very smoothly,” reflected Kostiev.

Journalists were very active in offering new ideas for the festival and chess life in Moscow, as well as the country in general. Requests were made to work in affiliation with the International University Sports Federation in creating tournaments, and to initiate RSSU matches with foreign universities.

In closing the press conference Alexander Kostiev invited two-time World Junior finalist and RSSU student Olga Girya, a regular competitor and among the Moscow Open 2014 Premier Russian Cup rating favorites, to perform the ceremonial drawing of the color for first board as the opening of the tournament festival. The grandmaster drew a black pawn, meaning that in the first round rating favorites will play with the black pieces.