Candidates Matches 2011 were solemnly opened in Kazan
Thursday, 05 May 2011
http://kazan2011.fide.com
In his welcome speech Minister Shaimiev stated: «On behalf of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, on behalf of Tatarstan’s people and myself, I welcome you, entrants of the 2011 Candidates Matches. Be our guests.
We, people of Tatarstan, are in good spirits these days. The first brick was laid today for the Chess Palace, FIDE Academy. I congratulate you on such a great event! We thank you for entrusting us with the right to stage the Candidates Matches in Tatarstan. We are proud of it! Here in Tatarstan we are little bit spoiled with a number of sports venues, most our teams are Russian champions. But chess occupies a special place among other sports. It’s a sport, art and science at the same time. It’s a game that strikes your imagination. Chess is still one of the most favourite hobbies of all mankind.
I have a request to the event’s managers. Chess players are people with a God-given talent. Be very attentive to them, indulge all their whims. It’s a priceless game!»
Chairman of the Russian Chess Federation Board Ilya Levitov delivered a speech as well: «The State Counselor already mentioned during the groundbreaking ceremony that Kazan was the third capital of Russia. I want to make a small correction here. At present Kazan can be named the first sports capital of Russia. Since it’s Kazan that became host of the major chess event in 2011 – the Candidates Matches. I extend my gratitude to the first President of Tatarstan and the current President for the attention they devote to our sport. I’m confident that the Candidates Matches will feature dramatic and tough competitions and I hope that they will become the best chess event ever.»
On behalf of the International Chess Federation President Council that unites 172 nations of the world, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov started his welcome speech with compliments to the entrants and guests on the occasion of the opening of the Candidates Matches. «We chose Kazan because people here love and develop chess. Your compatriot Rashid Nezhmetdinov is a many-time winner of chess competitions of different scales. Olympic champion and vice world champion Alisa Galliamova is listed among best chess players in modern times. Your another fellow countryman Gata Kamsky competed for the world championship title against Anatoly Karpov and yielded. I think that now, at the Candidates Matches, that are held at his old home, Gata will try to deliver a more successful performance. I wish good luck to all the entrants!» Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said.
The drawing procedure that took place at the Opening Ceremony decided the following couples: Levon Aronyan (Armenia) vs Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Teimur Radjabov (Azerbaijan) vs Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) vs Boris Gelfand (Israel), Gata Kamsky (USA) vs Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria).
More good work by President Ilyumzhinov.