I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the head of the presidential administration Borys Lozhkin and, of course and the mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadovyi as well as all those who provided the financial and other assistance in the organization of the Women's World Chess Championship.This is the true sense of the chess competitions. But there is another distinguishing feature of chess - one of the greatest inventions of the inquisitive human mind. This game is art and sport at the same time. Inspiration is essential in chess as in music and poetry. But the bitter rivalry and uncompromising struggle for the victory are inevitable in chess.
There is, perhaps, no other sport where the participants are required to have the maximum tolerance for an opponent, restraint, self-discipline and peace of mind. Only friends or people who respect each other and worthily treat their opponents as equals can play chess.
So let the inspiration and intellect reign in all the championships. Let insight and in-depth analysis, stretch of imagination and accurate calculation play first fiddle. And let the mutual respect and friendliness be the basis of the high sports results.
I thank Mary Muzichuk for the beautiful game and I wish her every success in the tournaments of the highest level. I am confident that the days spent in Lviv will be remembered by the participants and guests of the Championship by not only the joy of the game but new friends and unforgettable experience. I have no doubt that all the games played in the beautiful Ukrainian city will be included in the golden fund of world chess.
The President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE)
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
