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Tuesday, 02 August 2011 |
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The press conference devoted to the opening of the 1stage of FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Rostov-on-Don was held in the conference hall of “Don-Plaza” at 6 p.m. on the 1st of August.
It was attended by (from left to right) FIDE General Director Geoffrey Borg, Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan, Rostov Region Chess Federation President Sergey Nesterov, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Vice-Governor of Rostov Region Sergey Gorbany and Ex-Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk.
In his welcoming speech FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov emphasized that the composition of the 1st stage of the Women’s FIDE Grand Prix participants is one the of the strongest in the history of such women tournaments ever. On behalf of FIDE Presidential Board as well as the entire World Chess Federation the FIDE President expressed his gratitude to the authorities of Rostov Region and its Chess Federation for the organization of the tournament and attached the name of the center of the development of the world chess movement to the region.
Ex Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk extended her gratitude to FIDE for the organization of FIDE Grand Prix Series and to the organizers of the 1st FIDE Grand Prix Tournament in Rostov-on-Don. Alexandra avoided making any prognosis of the tournament results in advance, however she expressed her confidence that the competition will prove to be “a very interesting and non-compromising struggle as it has always been the case in women’s chess”.
The Women’s World Champion Hou Yifan also thanked the organizers for their heartily welcome and wished everyone good luck in the coming tournament.
The participants of the press-conference answered the questions of the local mass media representatives.
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