On November 7th, the FIDE President Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov arrived on a working visit to Astrakhan where he met with H.E. Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saud bin Badr bin Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud who is on an official visit to Russia.
The issues concerning the development of chess in one of the leading countries of the Arabian Peninsula were discussed as well as the possibility of holding the major chess events in Riyadh. The special topic of their conversation was the including of chess to educational system of Saudi Arabia. At the meeting was also present the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Saudi Arabia Ali Hassan Ahmed Jaafar.
Also the President participated in the opening of the Astrakhan Chess Academy together with the head of Astrakhan branch of “Gazprombank”, Mr. Askar Kabikeev (sponsor of Chess Federation of Astrakhan oblast), the representatives of Astrakhan oblast Administration and H.E. Prince of Saudi Arabia. President Ilyumzhinov presented the chess equipment to Academy. The opening ceremony was followed by the games, FIDE President with guests from Saudi Arabia against the young chess players of Astrakhan.

Please read an article about the FIDE President's visit to Astrakhan (in Russian) http://astrachess.ru/news/detail/202


With H.E. Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saud bin Badr bin Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud





With the head of Astrakhan branch of “Gazprombank”, Mr. Askar Kabikeev (sponsor of Chess Federation of Astrakhan oblast)





With guests from Saudi Arabia at the opening of Chess Academy





With chess amateurs of Astrakhan oblast


Sheikh Muhammad against the 9-year-old girl


With young chess talents of Astrakhan











GM Aleksander Evdokimov, President of Chess Federation of Astrakhan oblast, is delivering a speech


President Evdokimov vs President Ilyumzhinov


President of Chess Federation of Astrakhan oblast, GM Aleksander Evdokimov, FIDE President, Mr. Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Head of Astrakhan branch of “Gazprombank”, Mr. Askar Kabikeev