Certain reporters, without looking closely at the issue, decided that the new party was created to protect the interests of chess players only. In fact, everything is much more complicated and interesting.   

According to Ilyumzhinov's plan, the main goal of the party is to promote an increase in the number of thinking people. According to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, one of the main objectives of the International Chess Party will be the unification of thinking intelligent people and the promotion of intellectual lifestyle.
That’s how FIDE President defined the goal of the new party: “We created a party not because we struggle for power, and for this, went into politics. No, our main task is the adaptation of everyone, no matter young or old, to a real and fulfilling life. It is important for us to teach the young to calculate their moves.”
That is why the Chess party does not seek power, preferring to focus on supporting the intellectual development of people and introduction of chess into the educational system. But according to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, an increase in the number of intellectuals will inevitably affect the quality of people’s life:
“Everything that is happening on Earth right now - wars, conflicts, financial and political crises – is happening not because of the lack of money, gold, oil or gas. It is not because people are so angry at each other. It is because states and systems are governed by short-sighted people who accidentally entered politics,” said FIDE President, who long ago proclaimed the idea of “One Billion Smart People ”. And today, with his inherent energy and dedication, Ilyumzhinov is promoting it. Nowadays there are about 600 million fans of this game in the world.
By the way, chess is already included as a compulsory subject in educational programmes of different levels - from preschool institutions to universities - in China, the USA, Turkey and other countries. Among other things, oil producer Rosneft, having concluded a formal agreement with FIDE, donated half a million dollars for the development of children's and youth chess sports in Russia in March of this year.
However, a person who is very far from chess subjects may ask why is all this necessary. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov constantly reminds that chess improves not only thinking, but also human character.
“The most important principle in chess is first think, and then make a move. When chess is taught from an early age, the teacher asks the children to hide their hands behind their back. He says: “If you want to move a pawn, do not reach out with your hand immediately but think first about the possibility of losing it.” The child, inevitably, is forced to analyse the situation and, if he sees that he is not in danger, frees his hand and makes a move. After two or three months, this behaviour is automatically transferred to everyday life,” FIDE President said.
By the way, the introduction of chess as an optional subject in Kalmykia schools showed impressive results:
“A year later, they noticed that in schools, where children are taught chess, discipline and academic performance had improved. I myself learned to play chess at the age of five. It trains the brain and develops both the left and the right hemispheres. It is no coincidence that Mikhail Botvinnik, the World Chess Champion, said that chess is a synthesis of science, culture and sport. Albert Einstein played chess every day for an hour. He once said: "One must train the brain muscles." The only way to do it is play chess,” Ilyumzhinov shares his experience.
Little by little, but, nevertheless, persistently and systematically, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov realizes his cherished dream of uniting thinking people so that there would be as many as possible chess players. The creation of the International Chess Party is another step on this path, an answer to a demand of society, a political force, which goal is not to promote its representatives in power, but to defend the interests of ordinary people.
First of all, we are talking about the middle class: about the very "angry citizens" who became the driving force of mass social protests that swept the entire planet over the past year. As a rule, these are people engaged in intellectual and creative work, dissatisfied with the existing world order. They cannot be deceived by fairy tales and they are tired of the false populist demagogy of immoral politicians.
Chess is a game that requires not only intelligence, but also absolute honesty. In chess, it is impossible to pull the second queen from the sleeve and there are no marked pieces. An ordinary politician can treat his voters as “electorate”, cynically considering some people to be “pawns” that could be occasionally sacrificed. A chess player, however, understands perfectly well that all pieces are equally important, and any pawn with time can become a queen, and therefore requires no less attention and care.
There are no winners and losers in the chess game: each of the opponents gains valuable experience and becomes intellectually richer. That is why the partner who lost the party shakes hands with his counterpart, and would not try to cut his throat (figuratively speaking), as often happens in politics.
Undoubtedly, a simple transfer of these fair principles into political life would remove many problems and reduce the threat of various crises and social upheavals. It was not for nothing that Kirsan Ilyumzhinov proposed the following chess motto: “Think before you strike”.
Ideally, a good habit of calculating the consequences of one’s actions for many moves ahead and taking into account the public benefit and interests of all people should become the inherent quality of any politician. Alas, it remains a dream. However, it is quite possible that the competition with chess players will force “ordinary” politicians to change their views on the surrounding life.
The International Chess Party is open not only for chess players. After all, do all members of amateur gardening societies have an agricultural education? Are there many professional art miniaturists among philatelists? To take part in the new movement, it is not necessary be a chess master and participate in tournaments. There are professional associations for this purpose. Desire to make the world at least a little better is enough.

09/23/2012