The Battle of Borodino was fought in 1812 in the Napoleonic Wars during the French invasion of Russia. The fighting involved around 250,000 troops and left at least 70,000 casualties, which is why it is considered the bloodiest of Napoleonic battles and one of the deadliest one-day battles in history.
A symbolic chess tournament, "Live Chess," was held at the State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve.
Re-enactors wearing historical costumes represented the Russian and French armies during the French invasion of Russia (known in Russia as the Patriotic War of 1812).
The Russian side was led by chess player and European champion Dmitry Yakovenko; the French side was represented by chess player and lecturer of the Higher School of Economics Mikhail Strovsky.
Just like 205 years ago, the Russian “army” won, but this time on another field – a giant chessboard.
The parties played the Immortal Game, a chess game known to all grandmasters, which was held on June 21, 1851, in London, during a break of the first international tournament, where Adolf Andersen played White and Lionel Kieseritzky played Black. The bold sacrifices made by Anderssen to secure victory have made it one of the most famous chess games of all time.
A re-enactor wearing a historical costume represents the French Army of the 1812 Patriotic War era during the Live Chess tournament at the State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve.
Similar chess tournaments, where people and horses act as figures on a giant chessboard, were first held almost 100 years ago on Palace Square in Petrograd (modern-day St Petersburg).
Re-enactors wearing historical costumes represent the French Army of the 1812 Patriotic War era during the Live Chess Tournament at the State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve.
According to Vladislav Kononov, executive director of the Russian Military Historical Society, one real horse from the French side was absent – the animal was afraid of field guns shooting at military-historical reconstructions.
Young female drummers before the Live Chess tournament at the State Borodino War and History Museum and Reserve.
