The Head of Kalmykia and President of FIDE, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, met with the President of Tatarstan, Minitimer Shaimiev, at the Kazan Kremlin

On July 23, 2008, the head of the Republic of Kalmykia and President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, arrived to Kazan. Both the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev, and the Mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, arrived to the International Airport “Kazan” to welcome Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

During the same day, the heads of both the Republic of Tatarstan and Kalmykia had a meeting after which both sides gave a brief press conference.

Those who attended the meeting at the Kazan Kremlin were the advisor to the President of FIDE, Barick Bolgaeev, the advisor to FIDE Director of Development, Alexander Chernov, the Deputy Head of RT Presidential Administration – Chief of Directorate for work with the RT regions of President of Tatarstan Republic, Bulat Zinnurov, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan, Marat Bariev, and the RT President of the Chess Federation and Director of the “Tatarstan Bank” branch of RF Sberbank, Gennady Zaharov.

During an interview with the journalists, RT President briefly restated questions that were discussed at the meeting. Mintimer Shaimiev could not personally rate Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s job as the President of the International Chess Federation. “As someone who is naturally gifted, he deals with brilliant individuals constantly, among them he is one of their own, able to find a common language. He brings order to the complex world of chess. He has achieved great feats,” noted the head of Tatarstan.

According to the RT President, today’s visit of K. Ilyumzhinov is to primarily discuss the issue of developing chess in the republic. “This not the first time we have discussed the issue. Last time was in Turkmenistan, when we discussed the 2013 Universiade and the construction of FIDE chess centers around the world. Today we agreed that such a center would also be built in Kazan. We are planning to erect a magnificent Chess Palace. We will also offer FISU to include chess in the 2013 Univesiade, considering it is our prerogative to do so,” explained Shaimiev.

According to RT President, he and Ilyumzhinov took a trip around the city to find a potential spot for the palace, since it “must be a dominating structure in our capital.”

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, in turn, on behalf of the people of Kalmykia and the Presidential Council of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), uniting 165 nations around the world, congratulated the people of Tatarstan and the President of the Republic with a magnificent and decisive victory in obtaining the right to hold the 2013 Universiade. “I believe that the Universiade, which will be held in one of the most beautiful cities in the world in 2013, will be able to demonstrate accomplishments that the people of Tatarstan have been able to achieve in past years,” noted the President of the International Chess Federation.

On their part, according to K. Ilyumzhinov, they would like to contribute to the event. Last year, delegates of the FIDE General Assembly decided to build in the capitals of the world, which are 165 countries, chess centers and palaces. This is a multibillion investment project for FIDE. The project includes chess palaces, chess museum, a chain of chess schools, chess libraries, internet rooms, free educational rooms, for kids and veterans alike. FIDE is looking at the project of building chess palaces as one of a social nature. Most importantly this develops and popularizes chess around the world, considering that FIDE’s slogan is “We are one family!”

“I would like to thank the President of Tatarstan for showing me such beautiful locations and outlining possible places where the Chess Palace can be built. We agreed that it would be built in a form of a chess figure – the king. It is our tradition to build our palaces in forms of chess figures. Since Kazan is a fusion of West and East, of Europe and Asia, we would like to build this gem to only for Russia but also for the FIDE itself,” stated the President of the International Chess Federation.

According to K. Ilyumzhinov, during the discussion, Mintimer Shaimiev came up with the idea of building the palace in a form of a pawn turning into a king, which is analogous to a pawn to become a queen. Just like in life, if one has the desire and ambition, he or she will be able to achieve great things.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov demonstrated to the journalists, photographs of a similar project, of a palace in form of a king. On top, there was a chess planetarium, where the library and museum are located. “We are ready to hand over chess and paintings. Here one will be able to raise one’s rating. Right now we have united with bridge, a game that is headed by the International Intellectual Association, whose co-president is Bill Gates. Today we decided that the next International Intellectual Games, after Beijing, will be possibly held in Kazan,” announced the President of FIDE.

Today, M. Shaimiev also supported FIDE’s idea of incorporating chess into the school program.

Journalists also posed the question of the amount of time it will take to raise the Chess Palace. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov answered that it would take abut 1,5-2,5 year, from the moment the agreement is signed and the land assigned. This would be a 20-25 story building, depending on the footage cost of the project, which is believed to amount to 50 million euros and up.

It is possible that this will be the reason to hold the world championship for men in chess in Kazan, something the capital has never hosted.

“A lot depends on us; we would like, considering the architecture, for the building to be in the center of the city in order to highlight the unique nature of Tatarstan,” noted the RT President. K. Ilyumzhinov supported the statement, “This will not be simply a building, it will be a concept: from the past to the future.”

“I believe that Kirsan Nikolaevich and I have planted the idea. If separately we can work well, than together we will be able to create something amazing,” concluded the RT President.