Meeting with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev

On 19 October FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had an official visit to Bishkek where he met with the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev.

The main subject of the conversation was the chess development in the country. In particular it was noted that thanks to the active work of Kyrgyz Chess Federation and support of the Kyrgyz Republic government there has been dynamic chess development in Kyrgyzstan. According to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov the Central Asian Chess Cup of this year (held in Kyrgyzstan) was organized on a high level. The FIDE President paid a visit to this event and witnessed a great interest of chess society to this tournament which became one of the important sport events of the year in the republic. Also Mr. Ilyumzhinov thanked the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the attention paid by the government of the country to the realization of the FIDE programme “Chess in Schools”. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov added that the chess implementation to the school curriculum is not only a token of chess development in the country but also it will have positive influence on an intellectual development of children. FIDE President gave an example the experience of the Republic of Kalmykia where chess was introduced in schools in 1990 and has been bringing nowadays its good results.

It was also underlined that the cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic goverment and the World Chess Federation has been developing successfully and the both parties are interested in the cooperation to be more strengthened and profound, especially in the part of chess introduction to the school curriculum.

In conclusion of the meeting Kirsan Ilyumzhinov invited Mr. Atambayev to the opening ceremony of the forthcoming Zonal Chess Championship of Central Asian countries. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic kindly accepted the invitation.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev

Meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Abdyldayev

Later Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Erlan Abdyldayev. The issues of cooperation between FIDE and the Kyrgyz Republic were discussed during the meeting. In particular the possible cooperatiopn  to realize the joint projects to organize the international chess tournaments were discussed. Both expressed an opinion that it will strengthen the friendship between the Central Asian countries. Erlan Abdylbayev is a fan of the royal game. He shared with the FIDE President that he would like to organize a chess tournament of Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs under FIDE auspices.


Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Erlan Abdyldayev








Meeting with the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Kanat Sadykov

Another meeting was organized between the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Kanat Sadykov. The fruitful cooperation between  FIDE and the Kyrgyz Republic government to implement chess to the curriculum of the country was the main issue.

It was noted that the Minisrty and the Kyrgyz Chess Federation has already successfully started to introduce chess to the school curriculum. The FIDE President and the Minister have come to a common opinion that due to closer cooperation between FIDE and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic there will be more sources to promote chess as a school lesson. And the experience of the other countries can be also used.

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov said that many countries are interested in promoting chess in schools. He added that chess implementation is a positive trend of the international educational system. Kanat Sadykov came out with a request to organize a chess tournament between directors of shools and rectors of higher education institutions of Kyrgyzstan under FIDE auspices.


FIDE Prersident with the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Kanat Sadykov








Meeting with the President of Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation

Later Kirsan Ilyumzhinov had a working meeting with the President of Kyrgyzstan Chess Fedeartion Omurbek Babanov. They discussed the questions of chess development in the republic and organization of the Kyrgyz Chess Federation Congress this year. In conclusion of the meeting Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Omurbek Babanov played a chess game.