Kasparov showed up in Radenci, Slovenia for the Kasparov Chess Foundation's Friendship Festival, and he made the day memorable. The 13th World Champion lent his presence to three simultaneous events: the 2nd European KCF Trainers Conference, the 2nd Albin Planinc Memorial Blitz Tournament, and a Children's U10 competition.
The festival format mixed serious chess education with tournament play, which is exactly the Foundation's wheelhouse. Having Kasparov there elevated the whole affair. For the trainers attending the conference, his involvement signals how the KCF continues building infrastructure around chess instruction and development. The blitz tournament honoring Albin Planinc added competitive spice to the day, while the youth tournament gave kids a chance to play under the watch of one of the game's greatest players.
Radenci has become a solid venue for Foundation events. The combination of coaching seminars, competitive tournaments, and youth participation reflects a broader chess movement: building sustainable pathways from casual interest to serious study to tournament experience. Kasparov's presence underscores that the Foundation takes this work seriously, and his continued involvement in chess education matters as much as his legacy over the board.