The World Chess Cup started yesterday in Baku, 128 grandmasters will participate in it under a knock-out system. The World Cup is not only a prestigious forum, but also a direct selection to the Candidates Tournament. The two lucky ones who find themselves in the Baku finals will compete for the crown. Azerbaijan has already shown the world that the country can and is able to carry out major sporting events, and the best evidence of that is the brilliantly conducted first-ever European Games.
The President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in his speech said that, on the one hand, the history of chess in Azerbaijan goes back many centuries, on the other hand, modern Azerbaijan also pays considerable attention to the development of this sport.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly held more competitions in chess. I have to mention the special hospitality and conditions for business development. Chess has a long history: here, in the fifth century, people played the game of shatranj, it's possible to see this in the poems of the great Nizami. And the state programs on the development of chess have given great stimulus for the development of this sport. And I am sure that the extension of the state program will make chess more popular in Azerbaijan," he stated.
Vestnik Kavkaza asked Kirsan Ilyumzhinov about his impressions of the opening ceremony. "Firstly, I want to say that this World Cup in Baku, which we have opened today, is the strongest. Magnus Carlsen does not play here, because he is a champion, and Viswanathan Anand, as he is already in a Candidates Tournament. Here, there are three world champions - Vladimir Kramnik, Vaseline Topalov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov. The Women's World Champion Maria Muzychuk – rated number one among women, who is now showing results, became a champion, progresses very much. Everyone – Levon Aronyan, who is currently in rising form, and Vaseline Topalov," the President of the International Chess Federation noted.
"First of all, this World Cup is distinguished by the fact that the strongest potential has assembled here. The secondly, two women will take part in the men's World Cup for the first time. Thirdly, Armenian chess players have arrived here in Baku for the first time: four from Armenia and the United States, including Levon Aronyan. You know that the Grand Prix and the Candidates Tournament at one time were moved from Baku due to the fact that Levon Aronyan refused to come here. I would like to thank Serzh Sargsyan, the President of Armenia, and at the same time the President of the Armenian Chess Federation, because they made a wise decision: thanks to them. Thanks to Ilham Aliyev for such excellent organization, for security, and for all he has done and is doing for chess," Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said.
