SERGEY BYSTROV, INTERNATIONAL MASTER
	Editor's word

Dear chess lovers! Taking an opportunity, I want to thank Pavel Drugov for an article and other materials. Formerly only press-releases were issued at the festival "Petrovskaya Ladya". This time the organizing committee managed to gather a numerous body of players. More than 160 people out of nine countries during 10 days revealed the strongest in their "nominations". Nobody, I remember, succeeded in securing such representation in winter. And though it was the fourth big festival if one takes into consideration winter and summer Forums, in Peterhof, but at the 61st festival a numerous referee team did not get any written protest. It says of that on the whole chessplayers became more disciplined. Undoubtedly trainers tried to inform their children of the rule of chess competitions. The festival was visit both by chess lovers and by leading Petersburg Grandmasters and masters. All three vice-presidents of St.Petersburg Chess Federation (SPCF) A.Lugovoy, V.Popov and V.Bykov were present and spoke at the festival closing ceremony. Chairman of referee board Russian Chess Federation, executing Director of the (SPCF) I.Bolotinsky came as inspection. I did not hear from anybody any considerable remarks. I think, I will speak out general opinion, that such festival should be supported and developed. First of all, it refers to educating a growing-up generation of boys and girls in the spirit of sportive competition and diverting children from harmful influence of street medium that will contribute to their making as worthy citizens of the Russian society. It is all clear, but as to its realization there arises situation as in chess. All in the country known that even from 1990 in the town of fountains, Petrodvorets mass chess festivals are being carried out several times a year, including another town chessplayers. And from 2005 Peterhof festivals rightly got an International status with registration of rating-tournaments in the FIDE and winning of International master titles, and somewhat later Grandmaster's as well. It would seem that all interested in the participation chessplayers, organizers, arbiters and trainers should be glad of such a luck that there appeared a man really who is ready to take a greater responsibility for himself and obligation to co-ordinate the work of putting all these problems into life! Having passed a school of organizer in political circles, P.I.Drugov decided to return to chess work in a wide sense of the word, thereby being a deputy of the local council. Having headed a sports-mass department of the "House of children's creativity" of administration of Petrodvorets district as a teacher of additional education, Pavel Igorevich succeeded in doing much at a short time. For the sake of justice one must recognize, that his predecessor, V.I.Utkin left him quite a decorous "heritage".
I am not inclined to idealize P.I.Drugov as an organizer of chess festivals and children's chess trainer. He has still not a few shortcomings and activity spheres on to which more fixed attention could be paid. For example he could involve more Petersburg chessplayers to participate in his festivals... However, this work which is done by P.Drugov, he has better done, than many other, both at present and not in so far past! I will not keep in suspense those who are reading these lines, but I was very much wondered with A.Kentler's article on the Petersburg site wherein he is a chief editor.
CROSS-ROADS: FOUNTAIN OF DRUGOV'S TALENTS.
It is fine, that the former chief edition of magazine "Chess Petersburg" has fixed his eyes on Petersburg competitions, in reality rather, the trend of his site materials differs seriously from that what it would have seemed should be offered on its pages. I shall not refute or comment in detail what is written there, mainly, in a genre of satire. The author is always able to say, that he is, alas not understood correctly. But I would like to attract everyone's attention that it is rather shallow to write about the faults of childhood, even if they took place in Pavel's past with respect to his present position and it looks like squaring accounts. I would like everyone to understand, that a man has a right for mistake. Thereby he must not behave and fell guilty of it. The man must be conscious of its fault conclusion, and to try to make further on right choices in his life. We all are learning and passing different "lessons". What use did want not a young and must be a wise man to do to Drugov himself, and chessplayers of our city on the whole with the contents of his article? To what did he appeal with his satire?
And finally, the article of Mr. Kentler reminded me of such a revolutionary, writer and philosopher as A.Herzen was. He issued together with N.Ogaryov a magazine in London which was called "Kolokol (Bell)". It were logical, in my opinion, that "The Cross-Road" be rename "Kolokol". All the same the thoughts of one man are crossing it, and a guest thought is existent only nominally. However one must not forget, that one will not coincide with Herzen and Ogaryov in spirit, they had rather high purposes. And if they are not such, inevitably "Kolokol" turns out "a barrel", and, hollow, rather. As is know, it's always rumbling!
In the conclusion, I would like to wish the festivals "Petrovskaya Ladya" a successful performance swimming. Let P.Drugov not stop at the achieved result, and continue acting in the interests Of chessplayers of the whole city, and try solving all questions on a planned basis! At the same time, let him not give himself airs! I think, in the long run, followers will be found out as well! Then it may becomes easier, but it will not be "red directors", still. I wish young chessplayers to take courage of having an active lifelong position, and am thankful for everything in life.

update 24-02-2007