Statement by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
on the closing of the World Chess Championship 2008 

Text by: FIDE

I did follow with great attention the World Championship contest between Viswanatan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. I have many reasons to be proud of the World Chess Championship that took place in Bonn , Germany .

Viswanathan Anand defended brilliantly his Title as World Champion. I was amazed by his performance. He proved his vast knowledge of the game, confirmed his fighting spirit, demonstrated his ability to defend in difficult positions, showed that skill and talent are tied with long and tiring preparations and that success does not come out of chance. 

Vladimir Kramnik showed that he belongs undoubtedly to the top elite of Chess players who are of World Champion caliber. His challenge to Viswanathan Anand has been without concession. He truly deserves respect and admiration. I am sure; he has the talent and the ambition to achieve many successes in the future.

The match drew considerable attention of the public at large, and most of all, it attracted the interest of the different media. There were comments and reports in numerous websites throughout the world that were visited by millions of chess lovers. Many TV channels, radios, newspapers reported daily and largely on the Championship. Its resonance has been undoubtedly one of the biggest in the history of chess. This is a great asset that Fide must be able to use in order to widen and develop its activities.

Throughout the match and during its preparation, the official authorities in Germany did not spare efforts and support for an event that will be remembered for a long time. I sincerely thank them and my thanks go especially to Mr. Peer Steinbrück, Patron of the Event and Finance Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany and Mrs. Bärbel Dieckmann, Mayor of the attractive and friendly city of Bonn . Cooperation with national authorities and their support are key for the development of chess. I have here in mind the organization of high level chess events as well as chess in schools which is one of Fide priorities. 

The organizer of the Match, Universal Event Promotion, showed all along the competition competence and efficiency. I really praise the work of Mr. Josef Resch, its President, who did his best for a successful Championship and who was able to attract such big sponsors as Evonik Industries and Gazprom, two firms of great international dimension. The World Championship in Bonn shows clearly that professional organizers can attract big companies to sponsor chess activities.

This World Championship has been a real success in all aspects. Fide has learned a great deal from it. The experience and the lessons derived from it must serve as a model for next events of similar dimension.

Gens una sumus!

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov