round 1 of the Grand Prix starts today
The opening ceremony of the Grand Prix in Nalchik is a fact. Players have been assigned numbers and pairings are already known. Games start today at 15.00 local time.
Player numbers
1. Peter Leko 2. Shakhriyar Mamedyaov 3. Vladimir Akopian 4. Sergey Karjakin 5. Alexander Grischuk 6. Evgeny Alexeev 7. Vassily Ivanchuk 8. Etienne Bacrot 9. Peter Svidler 10. Boris Gelfand 11. Pavel Eljanov 12. Rustam Kasimdzhanov 13. Levon Aronian 14. Gata Kamsky
Pairings round 1
Leko – Kamsky
Mamedyarov – Aronian
Akopian – Kasimdzhanov
Karjakin – Eljanov
Grischuk – Gelfand
Alexeev – Svidler
Ivanchuk – Bacrot
The opening ceremony was held at the Musical theatre in Nalchik. The ceremony was led by the Kabardino Balkaria Republic President Arsen Kanokov and FIDE President and Head of Republic of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. In his greeting message Kirsan Ilyumzhinov emphasized that the tournament has a rating of 2725 points, being the highest among all the tournaments in this series. Ilymzhinov added, “Last year we have successfully held here the World championship among women, we are currently holding Grand Prix tournament.”
KBR President Arsen Kanokov thanked FIDE leadership for having chosen Nalchik as a place for Grand Prix tournament and pointed out that after the World Women chess championship, the interest towards chess among the inhabitants of Kabardino-Balkaria has increased.
Greeting by Kirsan Ilymzhinov
On behalf of the leadership of the International
Chess Federation and its Presidential Board
I am glad to welcome participants, guests and
Organisers of the FIDE Grand Prix tournament in
Nalchik!
Last April in Baku we had launched the first
Grand Prix series tournament. At that time there
have been quite a few skepticisms in respect of
this competition. But our first effort was a success
and today we are starting our 4th super
tournament of the series. In this connection it
is my pleasure to praise the personal role of the
President of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria,
my great friend – Arsen Kanokov. Last August,
despite a complicated situation in the Caucasus,
the leadership of Kabardino-Balkaria undertook a
very serious task – to organize in Nalchik Women’s
World Chess Championship. The task was
fulfilled on the highest level. This World Championship
created a huge amount of interest to
chess in this Republic. Now this hospitable city in
the Caucasus is expecting the arrival of the top
men chess players.
I am pleased to announce that this stage of
the FIDE Grand Prix shall be the strongest one
from all of them. There will be 14 Grandmasters
from creme de la creme of world chess, who will
be fighting for the victory in Nalchik.
I wish the best of luck to each participants of
the tournament and let the strongest win!
Greeting by Alexander Zhukov
On behalf of the Russian Chess Federation
I greet all the participants, guests and organizers
of the FIDE Grand Prix series tournament which
is to be held in Nalchik.
Each of Grand Prix series tournaments was
a memorable event. Tournaments in Elista and
Sochi were a great success. Today Nalchik picks
up the baton.We witness the capital of Kabardino-
Balkaria become a large chess center.The
fourth FIDE Grand Prix series tournament which
is a qualifying round of the world championship
is going to start in Nalchik after the Women s
World Chess Championship successfully held
here last September. Gladly, chess have become
a permanent feature in the Caucasus.
I express my hope that chess fans will get unforgettable
impressions from the play of talented
Grand Masters. I congratulate you all on the beginning
of the great chess sport event!
Statemen by Arsen Kanokov
It’s for the second time Nalchik has
become the place for a big chess event.
Last year we successfully held the 2008
Women’s World Chess Championship
which triumphantly ended for a Russia
chess player Aleksandra Kostenjuk, who
became a champion.
Currently, in the year of 2009, we are
hosting the fourth FIDE Grand Prix Series
Tournament. 14 strongest world top-rated
grand masters are coming to the capital
city of KBR to participate in the intellectual
contest of mind. And we, in turn, have
done our best to make the forthcoming
tournament one of the most impressive
sport events in Russia.
In our republic chess admirers are not
only going to get involved in their favorite
sports, but will have a perfect opportunity
to get acquainted with the picturesque
natural landscapes of Kabardino-Balkaria
and the original culture of our people.
I wish all the participants of the Grand
Prix tournament and our guests good
health, luck, pleasure, and what is most important
- new achievements!
