On 7 August 2026, as part of the traditional People and Bridges event, a chess Friendship Match between Serbia and the Republic of Srpska was held on the pedestrian bridge of King Aleksandar I Karađorđević, which connects Zvornik and Mali Zvornik, with the participation of more than 60 competitors.

The idea for the match originated during last year’s visit by the President of the Chess Federation of Serbia, Andrija Jorgić, and was implemented with the support of local governments and chess associations of the two cities. The goal is to make the meeting traditional and to bring together chess players from both sides of the Drina River every year.

The opening ceremony was attended by Jorgić, the Mayor of Zvornik Bojan Ivanović, the President of the Municipality of Mali Zvornik Zoran Jevtić, and representatives of the Chess Federation of the Republic of Srpska.

Ivanović said that the bridge was not only a structure connecting the two banks of the Drina, but also people, their culture and a common future, adding that chess was another bridge that connected people.

Jevtić stated that the meeting was not only an opportunity to socialize, but also to spread culture, foster common values and connect young generations. He thanked Jorgić for the idea of holding the match and expressed hope for even more competitors participating next year. Jevtić and Ivanović made the first move marking the beginning of the match.

Jorgić said that, in addition to its sporting significance, this event also had a strong symbolism in showing the Drina’s uniting nature rather than dividing. He noted that chess, as a game of reason and strategy, was another bridge of cooperation and friendship, especially looking forward to the large number of children among the participants. He expressed his hope that the tradition of the meeting would continue every year as part of the event People and Bridges.

The Representative Office of the Republic of Srpska in Serbia supports this event, which is one in a mosaic of numerous cultural, sports and other activities that contribute to connecting the Republic of Srpska and Serbia and strengthening their close relations.

Source and photo: Republic of Srpska Representative Office in Serbia