FIDE President in Kiev
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov attended the Ukrainian Chess Championship
On 21 June FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov made a working visit to Kiev. He attended the closing ceremony of the 80th anniversary Ukrainian Chess Championship. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov cordially congratulated the winner of the Championship, ex-World Champion Ruslan Ponomariov. He made a note that nowadays the Ukrainian chess is taking up a leading position in the world and the victory of the Ukrainian National team at the 39th World Chess Olympiad is the best confirmation for that.
Besides, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov underlined that the anniversary Ukrainian Chess Championship became one of the strongest chess national championships in the world (FIDE Category 17). Such results were achieved thanks to the fruitful work of the Viktor Kapustin, President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation.
The Chairman of the National Olympic Committee Sergey Bubka warmly thanked the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov for his care and concern he renders to the Ukrainian chess. Also, he mentioned the active role Mr. Ilyumzhinov plays in the International social life. In particular he made an example FIDE President’s recent visit to Libya. According to the famous Ukrainian sportsman, Ilyumzhinov showed to the world community that chess can decrease the intensity in the unstable regions of the planet.
Mr. Ravil Safiullin, Minister of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of the Ukraine mentioned that his Ministry will help in developing chess in Ukraine and in realization of the FIDE programme “Chess in Schools” in the country.
After the ceremony Kirsan Ilyumzhinov gave an interview to the Ukrainian mass media.
Baira Tsedenova
Elista FIDE Office
Nakamura could have won this easily.