Kazakh President kicked off World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of the World Chess Federation Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and other officials attended the opening ceremony.

"Chess makes a man think, make decisions and have the heart to do. I'm really happy that many Kazakh children go in for chess and more and more Kazakh people win many world sport competitions including the world chess championships," N. Nazarbayev said at the ceremony.  

The Kazakh President expressed his gratitude to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev for their presence at the championship and congratulations on the Day of Capital.

The drawing of lots with the participation of the leading grand masters and world chess referees followed the Chess Championship's opening ceremony.