Chess News

FIDE World Chess Championship 2010 Opening Ceremony (Photos added)

Veselin Topalov will have White pieces in the first game

Update: Photo gallery added

16:45 CET

The opening ceremony of the 2010 FIDE World Chess Championship match is starting at 17:00 CET. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and his assistant Berik Balgabaev have arrived 15 minutes earlier. There are more than 20 TV cameras and about 100 journalists attending.

16:50 CET

As we informed earlier today, the first game will be postponed for one day. The updated playing schedule is posted here.

16:55 CET

World Champion Vishy Anand enters the playing hall. Chessdom.com has five photographers on the scene, expect constant photo updates and a large gallery to be posted soon.

Wch opening Group

Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boiko Borisov, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Veselin Topalov and Bulgaria Sports Minister Svilen Neikov

17:00 CET

The opening ceremony starts with a minute of silence in the memory of the former IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch.

17:00 CET

Boiko Borisov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, is currently giving a speech.

Wch opening Borisov

Prime Minister of Bulgaria and Chairman of the Organizing Committee Boiko Borisov giving a speech

17:10 CET

His excellency Ambassador of India is giving a speech. He wished luck to both players and said “Let the better player wins!” A promotional video of India is starting.

17:25 CET

The movie about Anand and his career is currently being screened.

17:30 CET

Now the movie about Veselin Topalov and his career is on the screen.

Wch opening Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov

Wch opening Anand

World Champion Vishy Anand

17:35 CET

Vishy Anand and Veselin Topalov are invited to step on the stage. Chief Arbiter Panaqiotis Nikolopoulos is explaining the regulations. Deputy Chief Arbiter Werner Stubenvoll is also on the stage. Drawing of the lots will now commence.

17:40 CET

Veselin Topalov will play with White pieces in the first game.

17:40 CET

With this the opening ceremony is concluded. Thank you for following. Many more photos in the gallery.

Wch opening Arbiter

The Chief Arbiter Mr. Nikolopoulos during the drawing of lots

Chessdom is dedicated to professional and independent coverage of chess news and events from all over the globe! Join us for live chess games, interviews, video and photo reports, and social media reactions. Follow the development of the strongest chess software, which affects all chess today, via the Top Chess Engine Championship with its 24/7 live broadcast with chat.

Copyright © 2007-2022 Chessdom.com

To Top