On October 16, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Thessaloniki, where the International Chess Festival under the auspices of FIDE was opened in the framework of the Year of Russia in Greece and inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries.

FIDE President delivered an opening address and held a simul with young players. The multiple world champion figure skater Irina Rodnina and the 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Karpov were the gems of the tournament.