The teams arrived in Bahrain around the 1st of October, flying in from Moscow, Germany, Holland and England. The climate is a shock: up to forty degrees during the day, a balmy 35 at night.
But the country is quite spectacular. An the event that is being staged here even more so. We take you on a picture show of the first three days in Bahrain.
The five-star Gulf hotel, where we are all put up. Five star? We give it 6.5!
Beautiful lobby, spactacular restaurant – we will tell you more another
day
The grand mosque on the way to the playing site
The games will be helt in the Mind Sports Center in Manama
This is where we come, every day for three weeks
An ambulance and an air-conditioning unit help to combat the 40 degree heat
Old pals: organiser Justin Rickets, Frederic Friedel of ChessBase
A technician getting the sensor board ready
A thermometer to make sure that things don't get too hot
Men in shades: arbiter Enrique Irazoqui and Mathias Feist check the computer
The final rules meeting: Irazoqui, Morsch, GM Lutz, Kure, Pein, Feist
One day before game one Vladimir Kramnik tests the facilities
The three autors of Fritz (Kure, Morsch and Feist) look in awe at their opponent
Afterwards Kramnik is there for the chess-loving Bahraini kiddies
 Kramnik's bodyguard, a champion kick-boxer |
 there to protect his man from the likes of Mig Greengard |
Press conference with Shaikh Zeyad, Kramnik, Friedel, Rickets
Patron Yousuf al Shirawi and Kramnik wait for the ceremony to begin
The spectacular opening ceremony on the grounds of the Meridian Hotel
His Higness the Crown Prince of Bahrain, the Russian ambassador (right).
The speakers: Frederic Friedel, Shaikh Mohammed, Vladimir Kramnik.
 Kramnik and Friedel speak for the humans ... |
 and for the computer |
The very impressive Crown Prince tells the chess people all about falcons.
...and later invites them to visit him at his home.
Picture of the opening ceremony by Dagobert Kohlmeyer.
