Date : June 26th 2010

Agency of Political News – Nizhny Novgorod

On Wednesday, June 23rd, the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov made a statement which was a surprise to many observers.

We would remind you that commenting on the intentions of Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov to hold simultaneous exhibitions in a number of countries in Latin America, the Head of FIDE stated that ‘he was inspired by this idea’.

‘I welcome the initiative of the renowned champions. I hope that the forthcoming simultaneous games will be held free of charge and help to reveal the most talented young chess players who later on will be able to participate in to new tournaments in the western hemisphere recently established by the leadership of FIDE’, – said Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

According to his statement, ‘FIDE office receives many requests from different parts of the world to help to organize the performances of the famous chess players’.

‘I definitely know that the citizens of the many countries will be glad to meet with their idols. Now the FIDE Development Commission is preparing a programme for visiting different countries and regions by top players. If necessary, I am ready to help in the financing of such trips in respect of the popularization of chess. I have no doubt that the beneficial project of the ‘2 Ks’ will turn out to be long-term and serve the further development of world chess’, – expressed with confidence the head of the international chess federation.

According to the Moscow political analyst and the member of the Journalists Union of Russia Alexander Kozhukhov, by ‘this consolidating statement’, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov being an experienced diplomat, tried to smoothen the ambiguous situation that has arisen in the connection with the nomination of Anatoly Karpov to the post of the FIDE President. And he succeeded in doing it, by a great measure.’

We should not forget that in 2006 Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has successfully acted as a unifier restoring the monopoly of FIDE for the organization of the World Chess Championship and awarding the title of the World Chess Champion.

As a result, the many years split was overcome in world chess. In this way, emerged the active participation of former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, who, as you know, in the current conflict took the side of Anatoly Karpov whose nomination was considered to be illegitimate by many in the world’, – underlined the political analyst.

Alexander Kozhukhov believes that the claims of the ex-champion to head FIDE are not well-grounded.

‘After analyzing of the social activities of Anatoly Karpov, one can draw a conclusion that there are much more mistakes and failures than progress. Thus, according to the press reports, he practically failed in his work in the international association of the peace foundations. His activity as an ambassador of the UNESCO has caused suspicion in lobbying of the commercial interests of the companies producing the iodine preparations.

It emerged that Karpov’s idea of opening chess schools for children were unrealized while in Kalmykia, headed by Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, chess is taught in schools as a compulsory subject for a long time. By this fact, as well as the numbers of others, for understandable reasons, the people around Karpov prefer not to mention these points.’

The perplexity of the expert questions the methods of the pre-election campaign which was decided on by the team of Anatoly Karpov:

‘Incorrect count of the number of the national chess federations which supposedly support the nomination of the ex-champion has lead to a number of international scandals. Particularly the leaders of the chess federations of Tajikistan and Honduras who supports the candidature of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, accused recently the ex-champion in manipulating public opinion. It is hard not to agree, with the fact, that such blatant games do irreparable harm to the image of Anatoly Karpov’.

More disturbing is the questionable campaign to discredit the incumbent FIDE President.

Unfounded accusations addressed against Kirsan Ilyumzhinov do not cause anything but a sharp rejection of the position of the electoral office of Anatoly Karpov, from which all these insinuations come from.

Against this background, the self-assured position of the head of FIDE looks restrained and extremely correct. Perhaps, the mature ex-champion should drastically revise the policy of his office and make the respectful changes in his personnel. Otherwise, he risks to lose even those few supporters who he gained in recent months,’ – said Alexander Kozhukhov.

The political analyst believes in the fact that the involvement of Garry Kasparov in the campaign of Anatoly Karpov will not bring the latter anything but negative points:

‘There is an impression that Garry Kasparov, the 13th world champion, in a literal sense, attracts to everybody, with whom he works, a magical lack of fortune, attributed to this number, by superstitious people. It is enough to mention his recent interview to the Nicaraguan newspaper ‘Confidencial’. For the whole world it was a shocking revelation of Kasparov’s desire to use FIDE to satisfy his political ambitions.

Meanwhile, the chess community is not interested in being used as a puppet. And therefore, this disinterest will certainly affect the outcome of the elections of FIDE. Of course, it will be not in favor of Karpov.

“Experience of Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov shows that one can be a great chess player and know nothing about management, but also brings with these social activities, destructive tendencies.

In view of this and many other factors one can say with definite confidence that the chances of Anatoly Karpov to head the FIDE practically equal to zero “- sums up the expert.

Source: http://www.apn-nn.ru/540697.html

Istanbul, June 26, 2010

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the Vice-President of FIDE, the president of Turkish Chess Federation, Ali Nihat Yazici CHF where he discussed issues related to preparation for the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul in 2012.

Mr. Yazici also briefed the FIDE President on the willingness to organize the World School Chess Championship between July 21 to July 29, 2010, with the expected presence of the leadership of Turkey.

The meeting extensively discussed the problems and how to effectively spread the development of chess based on the Turkish experience. One of these forms could consist of holding trainers, arbiters and organizers’ seminars for developing countries, especially on the African Continent, with the active assistance of the Turkish government.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and FIDE Vice-President Ali Yazici

PRESS RELEASE

FIDE.com

On June 26, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited the city of Maribor of Slovenia, where he attended the U-20 Championship of Slovenia among boys and girls.

During his stay the President inspected the hotel infrastructure and met with the government of the city. He also met with President of the Chess Federation of Slovenia, Mr.Knezevic. During the meeting Mr. Ilyumzhinov told in details about the preparations for the World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansyisk and Mr. Knezevic reported on the development of chess in Slovenia, on preparation of the Slovenian team for the Olympiad and intention of Slovenia to bid for the World Youth Championship in 2012.

Left to right: Continental President for Europe Mr. Boris Kutin, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of Slovenian Chess Federation Mr. Milan Knezevic.

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“One World. One Vision”

Elista, 25 June 2010.

GM Vladimir Kramnik

Dear Vladimir,

On behalf of the FIDE Presidential Board, people of the Republic of Kalmykia and myself let me extend the most cordial greetings to you on the occasion of your 35th anniversary.

For me and an enormous army of your fans you are a symbol of integrity and loyalty, top professionalism and exceptional modesty. All these and other features of your character very naturally add to your outstanding sporting qualities, fantastic chess talent and sense of duty.

The people of Kalmykia nurture very warm recollections of your brilliant victory in the unification match. Here you have definitely found lots of fans for your multi-faceted activities and here you are always welcome as a guest.

On this remarkable day let me wish you first of all the best of health, further sportive victories, success in your creativity and all the best.

Please pass my congratulations to your family.

Yours truly,

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
FIDE President
Head of the Republic of Kalmykia

Following the opening of the fourth leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, visited the Chess Academy of Armenia.

Founded in 2002 through the initiative of GM Smbat Lputian, under the auspices of the Armenian Chess Federation, and supported by the Armenian Government, the Chess Academy of Armenia is the leading center of chess training and organization in Armenia today.

The Academy’s mission is multi-faceted: preparing tomorrow’s elite players and trainers to maintain Armenia ’s position as an epicenter in the chess world, organizing top-class chess tournaments attracting top chess players worldwide, and popularizing chess throughout the nation, primarily through its ever-growing network of affiliated chapters.

Under the patronage of the Armenian Federation President, the Hon. Serge Sargissian, the Academy with over 2,500 square metres of floor space, is the largest in the world, and contains a playing hall for over 360 players, several classrooms, seminar and conference rooms as well as accommodation for 40 people.

FIDE President expressed his confidence in GM Lputian’s work which apart from the main academy in Yerevan extends to another 43 Academies around Armenia. He also met members of the Chess Academy as well as several children and parents.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov opened the fourth leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia in the presence of the President of Armenia and the Armenian Chess Federation the Hon. Serge Sargissian.

This tournament is one of the strongest in the history of women chess with three former world champions Grandmasters Maia Chiburdanidze, Antoaneta Stefanova and Xu Yuhua taking part, as well as the legendary Nona Gaprindashvili being present as Technical Adviser.

In his opening speech FIDE President gave thanks to the important role that Armenia is playing not only from the number of top players it produces but also in the hosting of top events. As a result, places like Jermuk which are famous for their spa centres, become well known around the world thanks to chess.

The tournament was dedicated to the memory of Henrik Kasparian, one of the greatest chess composers of all time.

On Sunday, June 20, in Cuba, during the closing of the traditional Capablanca memorial, the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov announced that an amount of $500,000 USD shall be provided during a 5-year period for the organization of two new tournaments – Caribbean Cup and Latin American Cup.

“The events shall be launched this year. They are aimed at, first of all, support of the local young talents, which are now feeling the lack of strong events, combined with a generous prize fund”, Ilyumzhinov said.

This announcement came at the same time as the information about the simultaneous exhibitions to be given by Karpov and Kasparov in a number of Latin American countries.

The FIDE President is inspired by this idea of the two champions, although it has only appeared during an election campaign, and is intending to support them by covering their travel and hotel expenses for a long-term programme:

“I welcome the initiative of these famous champions and I presume they shall perform these activities on a voluntary and non-profit basis. I hope that they will accept my proposal and that they will be active for the whole period of the next 4 years. Today all of us should prove that whatever we are promising is not only for the elections.”

The forthcoming simultaneous exhibitions are likely to highlight the most talented young chess players who will eventually play in the two new American Cup FIDE tournaments.

The FIDE Presidential Board at its meeting in Antalya two years ago created a working group of World Chess Champions under the supervision of the FIDE Vice-President GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili. I would like to express our gratitude to our great players for the participation in the activities of this working group.

“FIDE receives many requests from various parts of the world for assisting in arranging exhibitions and events with well-known chess players. I am certain that people in many countries will be happy to meet their idols. We do not have any doubt that the “two K’s” chess propaganda project is for a very long-term perspective. Now the FIDE Commission is working on a programme of the players’ visits to various countries and regions. In case of necessity I am ready to assist in financing the trips aimed at the popularisaton of our game all over the world.”

It is beyond any doubt that a co-operation of Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with the “two K’s” shall be beneficial for the further development of chess worldwide!

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Click Here for a list of more supporting National Federations.

The “One World. One Vision.” campaign appreciates the support of the 45 National Federations who are supporting our vision.

We will continue protecting the rights of all Federations and will not allow any group of Federations, irrespective of their size, to control our World Chess Federation.

FIDE is an open, transparent, democratic institution with one vote for each Federation.

We will be publishing a new wave of National Federations endorsements soon.

Gens Una Sumus
“One World. One Vision”