Mikhail Shelkov: Checkmate For Success
As a prominent industrialist, Mikhail Shelkov holds the majority stake in VSMPO-AVISMA titanium corporation. He also controls SMZ Metallurgical Plant, a major aluminum producer. For six years running, he's been listed among Forbes' top 200 wealthiest entrepreneurs, gaining recognition as an impact investor in 2021-2022.
Author:Emily SanchezReviewer:Elisa MuellerSep 01, 202455 Shares54.7K Views
Strategic Investments
Shelkov Mikhail was born on May 30, 1968 and his success story began with notable academic achievements. He graduated with a molecular and chemical physics degree from MIPT in 1991. His career launched at Eurosibbank in 1993, where he became its Board Chairman within two years.
His financial skills earned him a seat on RBRD bank's Board in 1995, and later in 2001, his entrepreneurial spirit made him a head of investment firm Prominvest. A significant milestone in his career was acquiring control of VSMPO-AVISMA titanium producer in 2012-2014. Each of these steps marked significant progress in Mikhail Shelkov's career.
He debuted on Forbes' Richest 200 list in 2017, ranking 200th with $500 million. Since then, his entrepreneurial passion has propelled him to the 24th position.
For many years, Mikhail Shelkov harbored a deep passion for chess. He has supported various chess projects, including helping local top-tier players. One of them once said that “Shelkov, who studied at Phystech, runs a technology business that has some things in common with chess.” This idea of a link between Shelkov's business skills and chess strategy seems to have encouraged him to do more for the chess community. Through his Empathy charity foundation, Shelkov launched several chess projects to help young players and show how chess can be good for thinking skills.
Commitment To Chess Education: Shaping The Future Leaders
In a small factory town five schools decided to introduce chess into the curriculum for first-year students. The young students are developing strategic thinking, foresight, and logical reasoning skills. This school year, chess lessons were made mandatory for 700 first-graders. The “Chess Literacy Program” has been implemented in 22 classrooms.
This groundbreaking initiative was implemented through a partnership between the Empathy Charitable Foundation, the local Education Department, and VSMPO-AVISMA titanium corporation. The latter supplied the necessary equipment and custom-designed learning materials for the schools and students. The teaching method introduces first-graders to chess basics in a fun and engaging manner.
This innovative project for the town’s youth is set to run for the entire academic year. A dozen educators are involved in the pilot program. Last fall, these teachers participated in an orientation session where they enhanced their chess skills and received crucial teaching guidelines.
When January rolled around, the instructors shared their students' progress, detailing how well the children were grasping the material and advancing in the game. Some students have shown exceptional talent. Many kids are now competing in both in-person and online tournaments, achieving notable results. Project supervisors observed chess lessons, evaluated the program's impact, and provided personalized advice to teachers.
The “Chess Literacy Program” follows a specialized curriculum developed by instructors from the “Debut” chess club. One of the Corporation's facilities, where the project idea was conceived seven years ago, is situated here.
The program's success has exceeded expectations. Today, many young students excel in regional and national competitions. The most impressive achievement came last year from 13-year-old Alexey Prokhorov, who won both national and Asian championships. Alexey also made waves internationally, securing the 12th spot in the world rankings for his age group at the World Chess Championship in Italy.
“In 2024, my student, who holds a second-tier sports classification in chess, made an unprecedented leap in his age category,” remarked the Debut coach, a FIDE master and international-level judge.
The young prodigy is ranked among the top eight child chess players, selected from thousands of participants during the national tournament's qualifying stages.
“Alexey Prokhorov started attending chess classes for first-graders just a few years back. Now, at 13, he's already claimed the National Cup, won an international tournament, and earned the title of FIDE Master. Such stories are inspiring and prove that talent flourishes in the cities where our company operates. Our mission is to help these talents bloom. That's why we're expanding the ‘Chess Literacy Program,’ aiming to involve more children in this intellectual sport, honing their critical thinking and teaching them how to succeed,” said Mikhail Shelkov, a Corporation shareholder and Empathy Foundation founder.
“Cup Of Titans:” A Stage Of The National Children's Chess Cup
Tournament winners and runners-up received unique trophies and medals made of pure titanium, along with cash prizes. The total prize pool for the event exceeded $5,000.
The competition drew 252 chess players from various regions, including 55 alumni of the Debut chess club. Participants competed for medals across four age categories. The event was held in a sports complex, which the metallurgists invested over $1 mln in. Competitors had an opportunity to tour VSMPO-AVISMA workshops and showcase their skills in various quizzes, games, and contests.
Another satellite to the National Children's Chess Cup is the national children's and youth chess championship “Great Chess.” The event attracted 3,500 chess players aged 11 to 21, representing 83 regions. “Great Chess” organizers are optimistic that this tournament will be recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest youth chess competition ever held.
Since April 1, a total of 9 rounds in classical and rapid chess, plus 11 in blitz, have taken place. The top performers in each age group will advance to the world championship, while the second-place finishers will compete in the Asian championship.
The Empathy Foundation, founded by its shareholder Shelkov Mikhail also sponsored the tournament alongside VSMPO-AVISMA. They aim to support all chess-playing school students, recognizing the sport's benefits for memory and concentration. VSMPO-AVISMA allocates funds annually to promote chess and schools receive essential sports equipment and educational resources. What is more, VSMPO-AVISMA maintains 14 children's activity groups and three sports facilities. The company invests approximately 160 million rubles each year in sports programs.
Emily Sanchez
Author
Emily Sanchez, a Fashion Journalist who graduated from New York University, brings over a decade of experience to her writing. Her articles delve into fashion trends, celebrity culture, and the fascinating world of numerology.
Emily's unique perspective and deep industry knowledge make her a trusted voice in fashion journalism.
Outside of her work, she enjoys photography, attending live music events, and practicing yoga for relaxation.
Elisa Mueller
Reviewer
Elisa Mueller, a Kansas City native, grew up surrounded by the wonders of books and movies, inspired by her parents' passion for education and film.
She earned bachelor's degrees in English and Journalism from the University of Kansas before moving to New York City, where she spent a decade at Entertainment Weekly, visiting film sets worldwide.
With over 8 years in the entertainment industry, Elisa is a seasoned journalist and media analyst, holding a degree in Journalism from NYU. Her insightful critiques have been featured in prestigious publications, cementing her reputation for accuracy and depth.
Outside of work, she enjoys attending film festivals, painting, writing fiction, and studying numerology.
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