World Championship Sofia – contract signed by FIDE

World Championship Sofia – contract signed by FIDE

Sofia, 16.12.2009 – With the presence of the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Mr Boiko Borisov, the final agreement between FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the President of the Bulgarian Chess Federation Stefan Sergiev was signed today in Sofia at 13:00 local time. The prize fund for the match between World Champion Vishy Anand and Challenger Veselin Topalov is two million Euros and the dates are 23 April (1st round) to 12 May 2010 (possible tiebreaks).

A press conference is bring held at this time in Sofia with the participation of all major national media.

Sofia 16.12.2009 – FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov today in Sofia. Mr Parvanov expressed his satisfaction that Bulgaria will organise the World Championship Match 2010 and he assured the FIDE President that the event will be held successfully and on the highest level.

FIDE (and Kalmykia) President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. On the wall is an image of Hristo Botev, 1848-1876, Bulgarian poet and national revolutionary.

At the same time, Mr Georgi Parvanov informed the FIDE President that the Bulgarian Chess Federation will propose its own candidate for the position of President of the European Chess Union in the elections to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, September 2010.

Discussions in the office of the Bulgarian President. The picture on the wall is of Vassil Levski, 1837-1873, leader of the national revolutionary movement against the Ottoman yoke.

Schedule of the 2010 World Championship in Sofia

Source: FIDE