On March 25 the FIDE President took part in the awarding ceremony of the Championship finals of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Independent Operational Purpose Division named after F.E. Dzerzhinsky in Balashikha city. 13 players qualified to the finals dated to the Russian Internal Troops Day, which is celebrated on March 27. The first Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, the Commander-in-Chief of Russian Internal Troops, Colonel General Viktor Zolotov together with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov awarded the finalists with the souvenirs, and the winners got their prizes. The winner of the Russian Internal Troops championship is the Sergeant Arkady Dezhurko from the North Caucasus Military District. The silver goes to Lieutenant Colonel Konstantin Roppel from Novosibirsk and bronze winner is Mayor Vadim Fedotov from North-Western Military District.


The closing ceremony speech of Commander-in-Chief of Russian Internal Troops, Colonel General Viktor Zolotov


The FIDE President congratulates the winners


Colonel General Viktor Zolotov presented Kirsan Ilyumzhinov with a plaquette “For the contribution to the chess development and organization of the Russian Internal Troops Chess Championship”.


The military audience at the closing ceremony

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar