Efforts on to include chess in the Olympics: Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who was in Chennai recently for the closing ceremony of the World Chess Championship, spoke to P. K. Ajith Kumar of SportsStar and said FIDE was making all effort to have chess in the Olympics. Here are excerpts from the interview: 

Question: Are you happy with the way the World Championship was organised in Chennai?

Answer: I am very happy. It was conducted extremely well. FIDE would like to thank the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for sponsoring the World Championship. But for her enthusiasm and total support, this World Championship would not have come to India.

Can India hope for more major events?Yes, definitely. Chennai itself could have some big events in the near future. I have talked to the Chief Minister about the possibilities of conducting some important women’s events, such as the Grand Prix and the World Championship. She is keen about FIDE’s proposals. I am also impressed by her scheme to introduce chess to schools. That is the way forward for Indian chess.

Don’t you think it is time India hosted the Chess Olympiad too?Yes, very much so, as India is one of the strongest nations in world chess. We have already started talking about having the Chess Olympiad in India. We are considering Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai as possible venues.

You were very keen about chess being in the Olympics and had even got it as an exhibition sport at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, with Viswanathan Anand and Alexei Shirov playing a two-game match. My efforts are still on to include chess in the Olympics. FIDE is already in discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include chess in the Winter Olympics. We will have an official meeting with the IOC in February 2014. We would like to make it to the Summer Olympics eventually, but we thought we could get an entry into the Winter Games first.

What are your thoughts on Magnus Carlsen becoming the new World champion? I think it’s good that we have someone like Carlsen as the World champion. He is young, dynamic. He belongs to today’s generation and could attract even more young people towards chess.

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Magnus Carlsen formally Crowned World Chess Champion 2013 in Chennai

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

Norway's Magnus Carlsen receiving the World Chess Champion's trophy from politician and main sponsor J Jayalalitha and FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in Chennai, on Monday / Official Website 

World No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway was formally crowned the World Chess Champion at a glittering, brief ceremony in Chennai on Monday afternoon.

The closing ceremony had no speeches, only background announcements in Tamil and English. National anthems of both Norway and India were also played.

Jayalalithaa gave away the winner's gold trophy to Carlsen, amid loud cheers from supporters. She also honoured the 22-year-old Norwegian with an olive garland from the Nilgiri hills, while World Chess Federation president Kirsan Illyumzhinov presented him a gold medal. Magnus Carlsen earned US $1,582,732/€ 1,169,883 for his efforts. Anand, who lost the crown in his home city, was rewarded with prize money of US $964,028/€ 711,021 and a silver medal.

Carlsen became the new world chess champion after defeating Anand by 6.5-3.5 in 12 game match held between November 7 and 22. The crucial tenth game went in a draw and favoured Carlsen to claim the title.

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand, who had checked out of the Presidential Suite on Saturday morning, came directly from his home and left after the ceremony. The ceremony lasted 15 minutes and started a few minutes ahead of the scheduled time.

Anand was dressed formally in tie and jacket and Carlsen had his jacket on. The venue was the same hall in which the ten games were played. Over 500 people attended the crowded ceremony which also witnessed huge security personnel both inside and outside the hotel.

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ACP President Emil Sutovsky Proposes Special Fund for Veteran Chess Players

Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hello everyone,

The ACP president Emil Sutovsky published an open letter in which he addresses FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with a proposal to establish a special three-year program. Here is the letter: 

"Dear Mr. President,

Let me address you on behalf of the ACP Board at a time when the cooperation between FIDE and the ACP is bearing important fruits in the World Championship cycle stability, Anti-Cheating effort and other important fields.

I'd like to address you on a topic which is at the very heart of the long life of a chess player.

Many living chess players, in the course of their career, have had a substantial impact on the chess and cultural life of their countries, and continue to be a powerful source of inspiration for the younger generations worldwide long time after they passed their prime.

True chess legends, who maintained the chess glory and tradition throughout the years, often without a significant financial reward. We all grew up on their games, read the books written by these noble veterans, and - more in general - the chess world owes a lot to these masters who preserved and enriched our unique chess culture.

The rewarding status of chess legend, however, often clashes with the resulting economic position, especially once age takes its toll and the time for retirement comes. Unfortunately, in most cases, the later years are very difficult years for these noble veterans, who often become forgotten by the contemporary world and usually have little or no access to pension funds or other sustenance. In these circumstances even a small help can sometimes make a big change.

Read more »

World Chess Day July 20: Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Interview in The Voice of Russia

Alexandra Kosteniuk's Chess Blog for Daily Chess News and Trivia (c) 2013

Hi everyone, 

Fischer facing Boris Spassky, Chess Olympiad, Havana, 1966. Photo credit: © RIA Novosti, Paporov

A few minutes with the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE): July 20th, is the 89th anniversary of the founding of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, in honour of which The Voice of Russia posed a few questions to its president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.


DK: Let’s begin with what we might call a demographic question. It seems to me that elite chess players have been getting a lot younger over the last half century. Is that just my imagination, or have you noticed the same?

Ilyumzhinov: Well, yes, chess has gotten younger, because of technology, meaning computers and the internet. Whereas formerly you needed to have a sizeable chess library to properly analyze top-level games, nowadays all you need is a computer. It is no accident, therefore, that the age of players has been dropping, akin to what we saw in gymnastics a while back, for instance. Elite players can be very young, age 15 to 20. For example, a few years ago 16 year-old Hu Yifan of China became women’s world champion, and in London just a few months ago 22 year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the right to play a match for the world title. Young elite Grandmasters like Sergei Kariakin and Ian Nepomniashchii, among others, are only about 20, and you can’t compare 40-50 year old players with them. Chess has indeed gotten a lot younger, both women’s and men’s chess.

DK: Chess fans are much better acquainted with world champions than they are with players who haven’t achieved that level of glory, and I assume that when growing up as a chess enthusiast you were similar. It would be interesting to hear who was the first world champion with whom you were able to meet and have a real conversation. And what you may remember of that meeting.

Ilyumzhinov: The first world champion I met was Mikhail Tal, from Riga. He became champion very young, when he was not yet 25 {he was 23 –D.K.}. The two of us met in Kalmykia, of course. I’ve met Vassily Smyslov, Boris Spassky, and others, including Garry Kasparov, and Anatoly Karpov. But more than any of them, I remember meeting Bobby James Fischer, or Robert Fischer. I got acquainted with him in Budapest, in December 1995, and I played four games against him. I consider Fischer a chess genius. His games are all very interesting, and he is a genuine gold standard of chess for many, for several generations of chess players.

DK: Of all your predecessors as President of FIDE, who was the most senior one to give you advice, and do remember much about that advice?

Ilyumzhinov: Well, let me say that FIDE exists since 1924, so we’ll be celebrating its 90th anniversary next year. We have had six presidents, I being the sixth. I had a close relationship since 1994, before I became FIDE president, with President Florencio Campomanes, from the Phillipines. At that point he had already been atop FIDE for 12 years. We had met briefly in Moscow once, but then I spent time with him in Manila in 1994, and I couldn’t help but see how this man devoted his life so fully to chess, to propagating chess. When Campomanes was president, chess was still not very popular in Africa and in many countries in Asia. He went to those countries himself; he opened chess clubs and chess schools. His motto was “Chess for me is not just a game. It’s not just a hobby. It is all of my life.” He lived by chess, and perhaps you could say he died with it.

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Kirsan Ilyumzhinov: New Chess Grand Prix Series Starting Next Year

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

During the opening ceremony of Thessaloniki Grand Prix, Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gave an interview to Chessdom. Here are the excerpts. 

Q: Mr. Ilyumzhinov, you literally had only few weeks to prepare for Grand Prix in Thessaloniki. How did everything happen so sudden?

A: Initially the tournament was supposed to take place in Madrid, where last year we signed protocol of agreement. But due to crisis in Spain, the sponsors asked me to postpone the tournament for year 2014. This was not acceptable for us because we wanted to strictly maintain the planned schedule.

When my friend Ivan Savvidis learned about this, he offered to hold the Grand Prix tournament in Makedonia Palace Hotel, his recent acquisition.

Savvidis already supported Greek Chess Federation and he wants to open children chess academy in PAOK. That is why he thought the Grand Prix would be a good opportunity to further popularise chess in Greece.

Q: After this tournament finishes, you will have only one month before the next 5th stage is starting. Will this event take place in Berlin, as planned, or you will again have to move it to a different venue?
A: We are now in the process of negotiating and I think next week we will announce the venue. But the dates will not be changed, and this is important.

Q: After Berlin you have Paris as the last Grand Prix in the calendar. Will you continue with this Grand Prix format in the coming years?
A: Yes, we will continue.

Q: You insist on this format?
A: Yes, I think this is a good format and chess players like it too.

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Paris offers to Host World Chess Championship 2013 Vishy Anand vs Magnus Carlsen Match

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Paris – 3rd of May 2013. The city of Paris, France, is ready to host the World Chess Championship Match between GM Viswanathan Anand, from India, and GM Magnus Carlsen, from Norway.

In a letter to FIDE, the Mayor of Paris Mr. Bertrand Delanoë, expresses full support to the French Chess Federation in its aim to organize the final match to take place in November 2013.

The Paris Mayor states in his letter to FIDE that “the city of Paris welcomes the French Chess Federation initiative” to organize the Anand-Carlsen Chess World Championship, and “is happy to give its whole hearted support to the French Chess Federation to successfully carry out this project.”

 

The offer sent to FIDE includes a € 2.65 Million- Prize fund and a € 800 000- contribution to FIDE in accordance to FIDE regulations. It also offers a specific budget allocated for media coverage.

“Paris is the city where FIDE was born and ever since, chess has been part of our cultural heritage. Our Capital is looking forward to organize and welcome in the best possible conditions this Championship” concludes Mayor Delanoë’s letter to FIDE President Kirsan Ilymzhinov.

FIDE, the World Chess Federation, was founded in Paris in 1924. A world Chess Championship in Paris would be a prelude to FIDE’s 90th anniversary.
Philippe Mouttou WWC in Paris

The press release was sent together with an official support letter from the Mayor of Paris:

Dear Mr President,

I have learnt with great interest of the French Chess Federation project to organize in Paris the upcoming Chess World Championship in later in November this year. This Championship is very exciting with the match between Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen.

The city of Paris welcomes this initiative and I am happy to give my whole hearted support to the French Chess Federation to successfully carry out this project.

Paris is the city where FIDE was born and ever since, chess has been part of our cultural heritage. Our Capital is looking forward to organize and welcome in the best possible conditions this Championship that will enable Paris to profile itself internationally.

Yours sincerely,

Bertrand DELANOË

Mister Kirsan ILYUMZHINOV ·
President of the International Chess Federation
9 Syggrou avenue
11743 ATHENES
GREECE

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Caissa Chess Awards in Moscow: Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk is Media Person of the Year 2012!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk has been declared 'Media Person of the Year 2012' at the Caissa Awards Night in Moscow on December 17. As you know, GM Kosteniuk is in Beijing right now to complete her tournaments at the Sport Accord World Mind Games 2012, where she has already won the Gold Medal in the Blitz event just on December 17. So, you can expect more details on the Caissa Award later on her personal blog at www.chessqueen.com. (Photo: Chess Queen™ Alexandra Kosteniuk with the women's Gold medal and GM Sergey Karjakin - also of Russia - with the men's gold medal in the Sport Accord Blitz.) 

The 12th Women's World Chess Champion is an extremely Internet-savvy Grandmaster with a verified Twitter account, host of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and LiveJournal accounts. Her Chess Blog has been voted best blog in the USA. She is regular at staying in touch with fans and promotes chess around the world with the latest chess news, views, and chess-learning tips. Her summary RSS page with links to all the accounts are at kosteniuk.com: Follow them all for the latest in chess news and World Champion's chess views/training!

The Caissa Chess Awards Night was held at the Central House of Literature in Moscow. The tradition was renewed after a long break in April of this year thanks to the charity Our Heritage Fund, with special thanks to Vladimir Palikhata, businessman and president of the Moscow Chess Federation, and Victoria Korol, president of the fund.

The Award was given to 16 individuals. The splendid glass statues of the Chess Goddess Caissa were given not only to famous chess players, but also to politicians, businessmen and journalists who ensured chess has a place of honour in the life of the Russian capital.

“The Central House of Literature has a long history, a part of which is the tradition of regular chess nights. Last time we opened the intellectual game hall, which is now in use. Our Caissa Award is a sign of gratitude to people who have made substantial contributions for chess, for its development and popularisation, said Vladimir Palikhata in his opening address.

“Chess development is an integral part of our fund’s efforts which we accomplish jointly with the Moscow Chess federation and the Russian and international chess federations. This evening is devoted to the first Caissa Award ceremony for contribution to the development of this wise game in our capital. This ceremony will be annual and we hope the most prestigious in the world of chess,” said Victoria Korol, president of Our Heritage Fund.

Eminent guests on the occasion included FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Russian Federation First Deputy Prime Minister Arcady Dvorkovich, Russian Federation Parliament First Vice Speaker Alexander Zhukov, the First President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, and other famous politicians, businessmen, athletes, members from intellectual circles and the media.

Sergey Karjakin, who has this year won the World Rapid Chess Championships, was recognised as the best chess player of 2012. Valentina Gunina, playing for the Russian National Team helping them take two Olympiad championships as well as winning European Individual Chess Championship titles and the World Blitz Chess Championship, was recognized as the best female chess player of the year.

Hosts Margarita Mitrofanova and Mark Glukhovsky granted awards to former multiple World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov, distinguished Grandmaster and 12-time Moscow Champion Evgeni Vasiukov, Russian Federation First Deputy Prime Minister Arcady Dvorkovich, Russian Federation Duma First Vice Speaker Alexander Zhukov, Moskomsport First Vice President Nikolay Gulyayev, businessman Andrey Filatov. Awards were also given to the company Rosneft and its president Igor Sechin and Businessman Gennady Timchenko.

A special guest of the event was the new Women’s Chess Champion Anna Ushenina. She also was presented a Caissa for Brightest Foreign Chess Player. The statue was handed to the champion by none other than the former USSR president, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev. “It’s really nice winning an award like this,” said Ushenina. 

“I would like to thank all those who are selflessly and faithfully supporting the development of chess in Moscow and throughout Russia. It’s just fantastic. It was thanks to the Russian school of chess that there was a nudge of development for the whole chess world. And it’s doubly nice that it is under continued support and development at the governmental level.”

In the course of the evening Anna played two “pair versus pair” games against the Russian Valentina Gunina, European champion. In the first game Ushenina’s partner was Vladimir Palikhata, with Alexander Zhukov playing for Valentina. For the second game, Palikhata joined Gunina against Ushenina and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of FIDE. The moves were split between the teammates by turns, played in blitz format. The first game ended in a win for Gunina-Zhukov, the second was drawn.

Also of interest was a collection of chess and other cultural rarities open for viewing in the Our Heritage Gallery.

Annual Caissa Chess Award Recipients

1. Best Chess Player – Sergey Karjakin
2. Best Female Chess Player – Valentina Gunina
3. Best Journalist – the Kommersant, Alexey Dospekhov
4. Best Chess Journalist – Sergey and Marina Makarychev
5. Contribution to the Development and Promotion of Chess in Moscow and Worldwide – Anatoly Karpov
6. Mediaperson of the Year – Alexandra Kosteniuk
7. Best New Talent – Yuri Eliseev (World Champion under 16)
8. Partner of the Year – Moskomsport
9. Best Use of Chess Images in the Press – RBC Magazine, Editor-in-Chief Anton Popov
10. Chess Dynasty – Vladimir Yakovlevich Dvorkovich (posthumously), Galina Lvovna Dvorkovich, Arkady Dvorkovich
11. Greatest Contribution to Education of Future Generation – Company Rosneft and its President Igor Sechin
12. Development of “Chess Parliamentarism” – Alexander Zhukov
13. Best Television Coverage of Chess in the Capital – Moscow 24
14. Special Award “Our Heritage” – Evgeny Vasyukov
15. Event of the Year in Moscow – World Championship Match Anand – Gelfand sponsors – Andrey Filatov, Gennady Timchenko
16. Brightest Foreign Chess Player – Anna Ushenina

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

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Lady-in-Black Chess Trivia Photo

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Can you name the Grandmaster in Black? For a hint, let's tell you what Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said at the occasion this photo was taken: "Women are a model of fighting spirit – they always fight until the end, and watching their games is always enjoyable. The percentage of decisive games in women’s competitions is higher than in men’s chess. This championship was exciting from the first day, and there were many dramatic games."

 

Now, didn't we always say women's chess is more exciting ;)

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Now, Chess Party in Ukraine but Not for Political Agenda by Fide President

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

Interfax news agency has just reported that the head of Fide has announced the creation of the International Chess Party! Datelines Kiev, the report states that President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced the creation in Ukraine of a Chess Party, which does not set out to fight for power, and to unite thinking people and in future to become international.

"The purpose of my visit to Ukraine is opening a chess academy in the village of Klesov, Rovenska area. The second is to announce the creation of a Chess Party. There are democratic parties, communist parties, and now there will be a chess party. Why in Ukraine? Because I received proposal by Klesov, which will come in history not only of chess, but also of political thought. This party will be international. I would call it "chess party of the world," the head of FIDE said.

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International Chess Fed President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's Assistant Robbed of Briefcase with Documents, Tablet, Money

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Unidentified men have robbed the assistant to the president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

The robbers opened the door of Berik Balgabaev's Jaguar XF car and took away a briefcase, tablet and about 100,000 roubles in Moscow late Tuesday night, according to Interfax news service. The robbers also took away important documents. Mr Berik Balgabaev later went to the police of the Central District of Moscow, the source added.

The press service of the MOI of Russia in Moscow has confirmed the robbery in central Moscow.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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FIDE Chess Motto: One Billion Clever People

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in an interview to Olga Pshenitsyna of The Voice of Russia, says Fide is aiming for one billion people on the planet who play chess!

The 20th of July is celebrated as the International Day of Chess. This holiday has been initiated by the World Chess Federation. On this day, different themed events and competitions are being held under the auspices of FIDE. On this day, multy-board chess plays are held even in places of detention.
Of the 7 billion of the planet’s population, 600 million of them play chess. But Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), believes that it is not enough. In an exclusive interview with the Voice of Russia he has told that he was planning to increase the number of chess players in the world to one billion in the next five years.

”I have set the task to increase the number of chess players in the world from 600 million to one billion people in the next five-six years. Our motto is “one billion clever people”. Why have I declared this idea? The reason for everything that is going on in the world right now – I mean wars, conflicts, financial and political crises – does not lie in the fact that there is not enough money, gold, oil or gas. And certainly not in the fact that people are so angry with each other. The reason is that the states and the systems are ruled by short-sighted people who have come into politics by accident. If we increase the number of chess players to one billion people, the critical mass will increase, too. For people belonging to this critical mass the probability of becoming members of Parliaments, mayors, ministers, presidents, and kings is much higher. And thus the number of future incorrect decisions will decrease”.

- Chess is being introduced into the school curriculum. What effect can it produce?

- In 1993 the President of Kalmykia introduced chess into schools on an optional basis. And after a year it was noticed that in those schools where children were taught to play chess, discipline and test results improved. I was five years old when I learned to play chess. Chess trains our brain and develops both the left and right hemispheres. It is no coincidence that world chess champion Mikhail Botvinnik used to say that chess was a synthesis of science, culture and sport.

- What is happening to chess in Russia?

- Chess is popular in Russia now, especially with children. When I introduced chess into the schools of Kalmykia, many of my colleagues - governors, and presidents of republics - supported this idea. In Moscow chess is developing as well. Recently I was invited to one of Moscow's kindergartens, where three-year-old children are learning to play chess. Children become more attentive. There is a principle in chess: first think, and then make a move.

- Do you know of such cases in history when politicians invited chess players to make some political decisions?

- I was 15 years old when I became the champion of Kalmykia in chess among adults. And I became a member of the Young Communist League City Committee. While in the army, I was the champion of the North Caucasus district, and our Party Committee used to invite me to participate in solving political issues. Janos Kadar, the head of Hungary, is a chess player. He was making decisions at the country level. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, while interviewing somebody for a job in the government, was in the habit of asking: "Do you play chess, or not?" He knew that a chess player could calculate several moves ahead. Before signing a decree or adopting a law every politician must calculate how it is going to work, and how people are going to react to it. Therefore, it is desirable for politicians to train their brains, and play chess.

- In the past, chess players could only rely on their own brains while preparing for competitions, and now they can’t do without computers. Is there a threat that technology is going to supplant human brains?

- Scientists and science fiction writers have already written that one fine day a computer brain would seize power over mankind. We have already reached the level, when a program begins to make original moves. Why has a man used to beat a computer at chess? Because he used to make an unconventional move, and the computer was taken aback. Now computers begin to think unconventionally, and this is a progress. But when a man is playing with a man, he's not using a computer. In this case human brains are competing. But a person needs to develop. And his brain should develop, too.

Today a chess boom can be observed in many countries of the world. And programmes of developing and disseminating this ancient game are accepted at the state levels. Even in Mongolia, where chess has never been very popular, two international tournaments have already been held. Chess is taught in schools in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Latin American countries. At the beginning of every academic year, the President of Uruguay presents every first former with a mini-computer containing a chess program. In China children are taught to play chess in kindergartens from the age of five.


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Also see her personal blog at
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World Chess Fed chief, Boxing Champ Launch Online Gaming Project Geo-Social Games

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and boxing world champion Alexander Krasyuk of K2 Promotions have launched a new gaming project called 'Geo-Social Games' that is aimed at organising international tournaments in sports and games like chess, draughts, boxing, football, bridge, etc. They addressed a special press conference for the launch along with Anatoly Yatsenko, president of the Ukrainian Draughts Fed, Vladimir Kolomiez and Oleg Savchuk.

The Ukrainian specialists have invented and patented technologies that enable any individual to participate with thousands and millions of other individuals in an online game, which previously only played by two. This absolutely new product is intended for world markets of sport, games and gadgets and was invented by World Boxing Champion, founder of “K2 Promotions” Mr. Vitaly Klitschko and FIDE President Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

The project developers were the first who managed to combine the intellectual and economic component based on the principles of redistribution of winning in a product called “Geo-social Games”. The point of this project is the organization of global international tournaments of intellectual and other sports (chess, draughts, boxing, football, bridge, etc.) by means of information and telecommunication technologies. Each person regardless of his or her social status and means can earn a significant amount and be recognized by his or her intellect. 

Chess and boxing will be the leading sectors of “Geo-social Games”, which will allow unlimited number of people to be involved in these sports.

“To think a step ahead, develop the logic and thinking - these qualities are important not only for chess players or boxers, they are useful in the life of every person. ‘K2 Promotions’ supports this project, as it can become a new global strategy of refocusing the youth on a healthy lifestyle regardless of place of residence and income. Besides, part of prize funds will be directed on the stipends for talented grand masters, young promising sportsmen, on organization and conducting the tournaments. This one of the most important missions of project that we welcome”, said Vitaly Klitschko.

“Geo-social Games - project is designed to unite under its wing, people of different religions, races and nationalities, all age groups and various social stratum. A unique symbiosis of physical and intellectual possibilities can change the social image of the planet. I’m very pleased that project is being realized with great sportsman of our time Vitaly Klitschko on the basis of developments of Ukrainian experts, said Mr. Ilyumzhinov.

Thanks to development of modern means of communication the developers are counting on 500 million active players’ audience within 1.5-2 years.

The authors and project developers are Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President, Mr. Vitaly Klitschko, World Boxing Champion, Mr. Alexander Krasyuk, CEO of “K2 Promotions”, Anatoly Yatsenko, President of Ukrainian Draughts Federation, Vladimir Kolomiez and Oleg Savchuk, project developers and coordinators.

You can find a video and update at Russian news site Chess News.

Felicitations! Chess Queen Kosteniuk, Valentina Gunina Congratulated at Special Function in Moscow (Updated)

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hi everyone,

Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov congratulating Valentina Gunina and Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk.

We have exciting news to share. Chess Queen Alexandra Kosteniuk and Valentina Gunina were honoured in Moscow at a special felicitation ceremony attended by officials, players, journalists, and distinguished guests. As you know, recently, GM Kosteniuk had picked up a Silver Medal at the World Women's Rapid Chess Championshipand (a very close to medals' list) fourth place at the World Women's Blitz Chess Championship. IM Valentina Gunina had won the Gold Medal by an exciting performance at the Women's Blitz Chess Championship. Updates to follow at Chess Queen and Chess Blog. 


You can also read the complete reports about the Women's World Chess Rapid and Blitz Championships here on Chess Blog. There are great photos on Chess Queen website as well.


Read on Fide website. You can read the official website of the Russian Chess Federation here. 


From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
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FIDE and ACP agreed on close chess cooperation

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

On Thursday January 19th, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the newly elected ACP President GM Emil Sutovsky. The meeting took place after preliminary talks between GM E. Sutovsky, FIDE Deputy President Mr. G. Makropoulos and FIDE Vice President Mr. I. Gelfer (all members of the FIDE Commission for the Olympiads and World Championships), in which several issues concerning the relationships between FIDE and the ACP were discussed.

Mr. Ilyumzhinov and GM Sutovsky agreed on the following mutual declaration:

Both parties are striving for a constant dialogue and cooperation regarding all issues, which concern the professional chess.

In this regard, the following points were agreed upon:

1. The ACP will be actively involved in the decision-making process within FIDE – The ACP President or his representative will be invited to all FIDE Presidential Board meetings. Additionally, the ACP will be represented in the following commissions of FIDE: World Championships and Olympiads, Modernization, Qualification, Ethics and Rules.

2. The ACP, having a comprehensive information about all major events in the chess world, will build a Calendar for all official events. This Calendar shall be approved by FIDE.

3. The ACP will participate in the process of choosing arbiters for the Olympiads.The shortlist of International Arbiters – members of the ACP will be submitted, and FIDE will appoint 10 arbiters from this list.

4. The ACP gets the right to organize 2012 ACP World Rapid Cup, 2012 Women’s World Rapid Championship and 2012 World Internet Championships/Cup. In case the ACP intends to organize such events in the future, they will have to get an approval from FIDE for using the “World” title.

5. One of the FIDE President nominees for the 2013 World Cup will be the highest ranked player of the ACP Tour 2012, who is not qualified by other way (Elo, Continentals, etc…)

6. For the next World Championship cycle (2013-2014), the winner of the ACP Tour, in the year, preceding the Candidates’ Competition will be included as one of the eight participants of the Candidates’ Competition.

In addition, the question of introducing new Grandmaster title was discussed, and the ACP will conduct a survey in this regard.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Did chess have origins in Plovdiv, Bulgaria also?

Chess news and chess trivia blog (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2010

Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Hi Everyone,

The Bulgarian city of Plovdiv could have links to the origin of chess, according to Fide President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

In an interview for the Russian Kommersant daily, Ilyumzhinov said he discussed with Bulgarian officials the possibilities of staging the first international conference on history and origins of chess in Sofia.

The FIDE states that India is only one possible places of origin of chess. "This is one version. But do you know that ancient chess pieces have been found in Plovdiv? And this is one of the oldest cities in Europe. There are still theories about which country is the birthplace of chess. We first talked about India, then - about Persia. Last year I was in Mongolia, and its president showed me chess pieces found found in the tomb of Genghis Khan and the excavated burial mound. Check out their approximate age - they turned out to be 3 500 years old. The oldest chess pieces in India are maximum 2000 years old ... Chess pieces have also been found in Latin America, in Peru. How did they end up there?" Ilyumzhinov asked.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com