On 28 May the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived in Astana on a working visit. There he participated in an official signing of the Agreement between FIDE and Kazakhstan chess federation on the right to organize the World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships. The Agreement was signed by the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the President of Kazakhstan chess federation, the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the country Asset Issekeshev.

It is stipulated in the Contract that the World Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships will be held in Astana from 1 to 11 July 2012 and 16 strongest chess players of the world will take part in both of the competitions. The total prize fund of two World Championships will be 400 000 USD. A friendly girls' youth team match Kazakhstan vs. Rest of the World will take place in Astana concurrently with these tournaments. The first symbolic moves in the competition will be made by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

Signing of the Agreement

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the President of Kazakhstan chess federation, the Minister of Industry and New Technologies of the country Asset Issekeshev