On February 16-17 the FIDE President visited Beirut where he met with business circles of Lebanon and Lebanon Chess Federation. In particular, President Ilyumzhinov met with FIDE representative in the Mediterranean Mr. Alan Khouri and discussed the chess development in Lebanon. Also President met with representatives of business circles of Lebanon during which the international investment projects were discussed. In particular, these issues were discussed at the meeting with Lebanese businessman Rene Moawad.
FIDE President’s twitter informs that in the airport in Beirut he had a short meeting with the First Vice-Chairman of the Council Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander Torshin. “Unexpected but pleasant meeting”, posted President Ilyumzhinov. During Beirut - Moscow flight FIDE President had a conversation with the Head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations Metropolitan Hilarion during which they played a friendly chess game. “The first game was won by Metropolitan Hilarion, and I had to strain myself in the second game to prove my chess title”. As FIDE President noted, Metropolitan Hilarion has a first grade in chess and his mother was a champion of Moscow. An “active spectacular and consultant” of FIDE President-Metropolitam Hilarion games was a famous Russian businessman Ivan Savvidi.

Head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations Metropolitan Hilarion vs FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Russian businessman Ivan Savvidi and Metropolitan Hilarion

With the First Vice-Chairman of the Council Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mr. Alexander Torshin