The closing ceremony of the World Women’s Chess Championship match was held in the spectacular Presidential Palace in the capital of Albania Tirana on the evening of the 30th of November.
The ceremony was attended by Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, the last head of state of the USSR, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for “his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important parts of the international community”, who came to Tirana specially for the occasion.
The legendary politician was invited by his friend, World Chess Federation (FIDE) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who also held a speech on the closing ceremony of the main chess women’s competition of the year.
Due to the cooperation with Ilyumzhinov, and Gorbachev’s devotion to chess in the years of his youth (he learned to play during the Second World War as he said in the speech), the former Head of USSR agreed to take the honorary position of the patronage of the FIDE’s program “Chess in Schools”. “The first thing we should always think about is kids, and their education and opportunities”, – said Gorbachev at the ceremony.
The distinguished guests, among who were the President of Albanian chess federation and the owner of the main sponsor of the match “Taci Oil” Rezart Taci, FIDE officials joined Gorbachev and Ilyumzhinov in congratulations to the World champion 17 years old Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan and her challenger Humpy Koneru from India.
When publishing this news and photos please give a reference: “by Anastasiya Karlovich and Anna Burtasova with kind permission of FIDE”
Pictures from closing ceremony of World Champion are in attachment.
More photos are in gallery http://www.wwcc2011tirana.com/template.php?pag=14
Anastasiya Karlovich, FIDE Press officer
Congratulations!