It is worth reminding that since 2008, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov actively lobbied the worldwide FIDE project ‘Chess in Schools’ aimed at promoting the ancient game by the introduction of chess into the secondary schools and higher educational bodies.
On June 12th, the President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Baku, where he attended the opening ceremony of the first European Games.
On the eve of the ceremony, the head of FIDE held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who has an idea of turning the capital of Azerbaijan into the world sports centre. Incidentally, Mr. Aliyev, in response to the initiative of Ilyumzhinov, has opened the unique chess pavilion in Baku.
FIDE President also met with the head of the Republic of Dagestan Ramazan Abdulatipov at the reception in honour of the opening of the Games. Who, in turn, warmly welcomed the Ilyumzhinov’s proposal to create the special chess faculty at the Dagestan State University.
