Georgia hosts World Chess Olympiad
The 43rd World Chess Olympiad kicked off in Georgia’s Black Sea resort town Batumi. Georgia — having its own generations of World & Olympic chess champion women, hosts about 4,000 chess players from 180 countries.
The Olympiad opened September 23 with a spectacular show at the Black Sea Arena, a premier performing venue in the country and will last till October 5 with the closing ceremony at Batumi State Music Centre.
The Olympiad opening ceremony was attended by renowned Georgian chess players, honorary guests from abroad and President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili.
Chess has always been very popular in Georgia with legendary champion women: Nona Gaprindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze — both being five-time world champions; Nana Alexandria — two-time vice-world champion and six-time champion of the Chess Olympiad; and young generation of successful players.
“Overall, the chess queen crown has been kept in Georgia for 30 years! I hope Georgia will celebrate the world championship once again in the nearest future,” said President Margvelashvili.
At the Olympiad, the winner of the Nona Gaprindashvili Cup will be chosen. The award was established by FIDE in 1997. Since the 1998 Chess Olympiad, the Nona Cup is awarded to the federation of the country whose teams of both male and female players score the most points.
During the Olympiad, the World Chess Federation — FIDE and Continental Chess Association’s presidential elections will be held. FIDE has three presidential candidates: the Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos (Greece), Arkady Dvorkovich (Russia) and Nigel Short (England). FIDE’s presidential elections will be held on October 3.