SLAVIJA SECURES PROMOTION TO BiH PREMIER CHESS LEAGUE

ISTOČNO NOVO SARAJEVO, SEPTEMBER 1 /SRNA/ - The Slavija Chess Club from Istočno Novo Sarajevo has secured promotion to the BiH Premier Chess League, the club's director, Jovo Janjić, told SRNA.

"From August 23 to 29, we achieved an excellent result in the Republika Srpska First League in Bijeljina — seven wins in seven matches — and deservedly finished in first place," Janjić said, thanking the Istočno Novo Sarajevo Municipal Administration and Mayor Jovan Katić for significant one-off financial assistance, which enabled the club to travel to Bijeljina.

He expressed hope that the Slavija Chess Club's promotion to the BiH Premier League would encourage institutions and individuals in the city of Istočno Sarajevo to give them wholehearted support in the upcoming championship, competitions and chess tournaments.

Janjić said that the city of Istočno Sarajevo has solid prospects for promoting chess, noting that the club operates in both Istočno Novo Sarajevo and Istočna Ilidža.

"The prospects are really good because there are four elementary schools in this area, and there is considerable capacity and strong interest among children and parents in playing chess," Janjić stressed, pointing out that chess is an excellent social game that helps with learning, so children who play chess tend to be good students as well.

Janjić reminded that the club's women's team was crowned champions of the BiH Premier Chess League six times, thereby qualifying for the European Club Cup, but was unable to take part in the prestigious competition due to a lack of funds.

According to him, the club now has solid working conditions at the Serbia Sports Hall.

The Slavija Chess Club was founded in 1984, the year of the Olympic Games, under the name Igman. After the war, the Slavija Sports Association was established, within which the club was given its current name.