On December 30, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Doha, Qatar, for a closing ceremony of the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship. The competition held in the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena sports stadium was attended by more than 100 chess players.Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk became the winner of rapid chess. Russian Alex Grischuk won the silver medal and Magnus Carlsen settled for the bronze one.
Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk dominated the women's tournament. The rapid winners were Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia, silver), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia, bronze) and blitz winners were Russians Valentine Gunina (silver) and Yekaterina Lagno (bronze).
Further, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov spoke briefly summing up the chess results of the year and awarded the winners.
"This is the first time that the FIDE organizes the Open Championship and it is our first experience. I have already spoken with chess players, who were quite satisfied. Next year, I hope we will hold a series of tournaments in Munich. We are negotiating now," said Ilyumzhinov after the ceremony.
