TWIC is 30. First issue 17th September 1994.
World Chess Championships 2010 (Opening Ceremony)
Topalov draws white in game one
Mark Crowther - Wednesday 21st April 2010
FIDE President Kirsan Iljumzhinov opens the Championships | http://www.theweekinchess.com
Challenger Veselin Topalov will have the white pieces in the first game of the World Chess Championships in Bulgaria. A draw was held to see who would choose a box, which contained either a large white or black pawn. Topalov was drawn as the player to make the choice and he found a white piece.
All Smiles from Anand and Topalov. Photo © http://www.europe-echecs.com who are on the spot making videos.
The World Chess Championship Opening Ceremony took place in Sofia at 6pm local time on 21st April 2010.
After the Bulgarian National anthem was played the dignitaries which included FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Indian Ambassedor to Bulgaria and the President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation as well as the players were introduced.
The ceremony opened with a moments silence for Juan Antonio Samaranch and and the former President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation Vladimir Rangelov who both died recently.
All decked out in time for the match. Photo © http://www.europe-echecs.com who are on the spot making videos.
There were video presentations on the history of Bulgaria, World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and his challenger Veselin Topalov.
The President of FIDE, speaking in Russian, and translated into Bulgarian said a few brief words to open the event.
Then World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and his Challenger Veselin Topalov were welcolmed to the stage and officials (I believe Werner Stubenvoll) introduced the draw.
The stage is set. Photo © http://www.europe-echecs.com who are on the spot making videos.
Two women held boxes with the player's names in them. Stubenwoll chose one which gave Topalov the right to open a second set of boxes. He chose the box that indicated he would have white on Saturday. Then they closed the ceremony. Play begins Saturday 24th April, and as was established earlier the match will proceded with the original schedule except that everything will be pushed back one day.
