Press release
For media representatives
Chess
World’s best women players get together in Geneva for the Fondation Neva Women’s Grand Prix
Geneva, 3 May 2013 – The Neva Foundation in partnership with the Internation Chess Federation (FIDE) organises the first leg of the official Women’s Grand Prix series for the first time in Geneva. From May 3 to May 15, 12 best women players featuring current Women World Champion Anna Ushenina from Ukraine, will confront each other at the N’vY hotel. The competitions are open to the public (for further information visit http://geneva2013.fide.com). “This tournament is a unique opportunity to discover a favorite sport in Russia”, rejoices Mrs Timtchenko, President of the Neva Foundation.
Competitive sport with multiple benefits
It was the opening ceremony attended by Mrs Isabel Rochat, Geneva State Chancellor, Mrs Sandrine Salerno, Administrative Chancellor of the City of Geneva and chess people,
which kicked off the Championship bringing together the leading women players. “We are happy to be in Geneva and we thank the Neva Foundation for making it possible”, said Mr Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE President. “Introducing chess lessons at schools is undoubtedly beneficial for the young people in many respects. The Neva Foundation wishes to encourage the discovery of this highly strategic sport by creating opportunities for cross-cultural interaction”, added Mrs Elena Titchenko.
Geneva public associated to this event
In order to give the chess aficionados from Geneva an opportunity to take advantage of every single day of the competition, the games will be available to the public from 2pm and will be commented on live by a specialist at the Nolita room of the N’vY Hotel. The tournament is also broadcast on the FIDE official website (www.fide.com).
On Sunday 12 May, one of the two free days granted to the players, around thirty young passionate players, members of the Geneva Chess Federation, will play simultaneous games with one or other Grandmaster.
La tribune de Genève, Léman bleu and One FM are media partners of the Grand Prix.
The Neva Foundation and chess
The Fondation Neva Women’s Grand Prix is a reflection of the Neva Foundation’s desire to raise awareness about this discipline considered as a national sport in Russia as well as of its involvement in popularizing it abroad. In April 2013, the Neva Foundation was partner of the Alekhine Memorial tournament which took place at the Louvre Museum in Paris and brought together the best chess players. More broadly, the Neva Foundation is dedicated to encouraging closer links between Switzerland and Russia. This ambitious aim is given concrete expression in a number of initiatives in the sphere of sports, culture and science.
The Neva Foundation: For over fifteen years, Elena and Gennady Timtchenko have been actively and personally engaged in philanthropic activities. In order to better manage the growing complexity of these projects, they created three foundations, among which the Neva Foundation established in Geneva in 2008. Its core mission is to strengthen historical ties between Switzerland and Russia, two nations which share many common values and the same classical culture. By supporting projects promoting excellence in the field of culture, science and sport, the Neva Foundation is helping to promote the Russian cultural diversity among the Swiss, to multiply exchanges between the two countries and to encourage their connection. Since 2013 the Neva Foundation extends its partnerships to France.
www.neva-fondation.org
For further information on the Fondation Neva Women’s Grand Prix: http://geneva2013.fide.com www.fide.com
Geoffrey Borg, CEO FIDE – +356 99 43 47 29 geoffrey.borg@fide.com
Fondation Neva:
Philippe Eberhard – +41 22 321 45 40 Delphine Rappaz – +41 22 735 59 77 eberhard@cpc-pr.ch delphine.rappaz@neva-fondation.org
What are the prize funds?
Kosteniuk will beat everybody and go 13-0! It’s in the bag.