On 24 September 2012 the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived on a working visit in Klesiv, Rivne region of Ukraine. Klesiv is an urban village with the population of about 5 thousand people. It is known for taking the second place after Kaliningrad by extraction of amber.

A press-conference hosted by Interfax-Ukraine took place upon the arrival. According to Mr. Ilyumzhinov the purpose of his visit to Ukraine is to open a chess academy in the village of Klesiv, and to announce the creation of the Chess Party. Vladimir Kovalchuk, Vice President of the Ukrainian chess federation and President of Rivne region chess federation attended the press-conference. Mr. Kovalchuk noted that they want to implement chess to the school curriculum because there are 20 thousand schools in Ukraine and it will give a colossal effect if the younger generation will develop from early age while playing chess. According to him 14 chess classes were opened in schools of Rivne region, and during the break pupils of one of the schools prefer to play chess rather than to run back and forth and fight. Vladimir Kovalchuk added that he hopes that they will pass their good experience to other countries, and in the end create a powerful intellectual structure that will gather people by their mental development.

Later Kirsan Ilyumzhinov opened in Klesiv a Chess Academy. Chess is main hobby in village and it has a chess club where FIDE President had a blitz game with one of the chess players. During the opening of the academy a beautiful show "Live Chess Figures" was performed to the honor guests.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov


Vladimir Kovalchuk, Vice President of the Ukrainian chess federation and President of Rovno region chess federation and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

In Klesiv