Novgorod State University

Official Report

Lunch for reporters

Lunch for reporters, the first one within the history of the
super tournament, took place at Beresta Palace Hotel on July 19. The
reporters were greeted by Michail Skibar, the first vice-chairman of
the administartion of the city of Novgorod, Nikolai Semyonov, the
vice-chairman of the administration of Novgorod region, and Irina
Kibina, the director of the super tournament.

The guests exchanged opinions about traditional competitions with the
participation of the best grandmasters of the world. For example,
Viktor Troyanovsky, the authorized reporter for ITAR TASS, proposed
to establish some special prizes, such as to the youngest
participant, for the most attractive victory, for the wish to win.

Some words of Michail Skibar became "the chief news of the day". He
said that the city officials do not object against the organization
of a possible game between two great "K"s - Garry Kasparov and
Anatoly Karpov - on the banks of the Volkhov river.

Organizing the super tournament for the third time in a raw, Novgorod
has confirmed its ability to make the stay of the world best grand
masters in the city of a high level.

V.Ivanchuk appeared at the end of the lunch. The un-sheduled
press conference took place. The grandmaster was in his best moods.

Press conference and drawing of lots

The first press conference and drawing of lots of the participants took
place at Beresta Palace Hotel in the evening of July 19.

The following officials were present in the conference-hall: Michail
Skibar, the first vice-chairman of the city administration, Nikolai
Semyonov, the vice-chairman of the regional administration, Karsten
Bennika, the director of the joint-stock Company "Stimorol-Novgorod",
Irina Kibina, the director of the tournament.

The press conference lasted for 35 minutes. 14 questions were asked.
Last year only 7 questions were asked. The reporters working for the
first supertournament two years ago asked 16 questions - most of all.
A year ago only 4 grand masters out of 10 were interviewed. This time
all six grand masters had to answer the questions. The charming
Polgar had to answer 4 questions. Her mother, K.Polgar, and she got
luxurious flowers. This pleasant mission was done by Michael Skibar
and Nikolai Semyonov.

V.Ivanchuk was asked to evaluate in a nutshell the match between Anatoly Karpov
and Gata Kamsky for the title of the world champion according the FIDE versions.
The match has just been finished. The Ukranian grand-master gave the
shortest answer in the a sense of humour: "The victory of boredom".

N.Short got the same 2nd order number at the sortition as last year.
Though his favorite figure is 7.

V.Ivanchuk got the same 5th number as last year. In 1994 he had the
first number.

Another participant of the tournament, Vladimir Kramnik, drew number
3. Last year he had 9 and the year before - 6.

V.Topalov got number 4. Last year he had the last 10th number.

Two participants of the super tournament who came here for the first
time got "edge" numbers: B.Gelfand got the 1st, J.Polgar - the 6th.

Last year all the lots were put just into souvenir birch-bark shoes
("lapti"). This time they were placed into... the dolls, made by a
professional craftswoman Irina Orlyankina. All the dolls were
beatiful and each of them had a unique dress made according to the
Russian tradition. It was a perfect gift for the grand masters
reminding them about the ancient city of Novgorod.

Sortition was an unusual one. Its leader Irina Kibina told a
well-known tale about Vasilisa the Beauty. Five grandmasters were
titled "brave fellows" for the first time in their lives. J.Polgar
was called "the beauty".

Ceremony of opening

The opening ceremony of the super tournament took place at 2:00
p.m. on July 20 at the Drama Theater. The grandmasters and the arbiters
appeared on a stage decorated with the adds of the point-stock
company "Stomorol-Novgorod".  They were accompanied by elegant girls
- photomodels from the photoagency "Image Rendez-vous". All of them were
dressed in white and black dresses according to the chess fashion.
Following the set-up tradition, the participants of the tournament
got bouquets of flowers.

Irina Kibina, the director of the super tournament, asked Nikolai
Semyonov, the vice-governor of Novgorod region, to announce the
beginning of the tournament. The second speaker was Philip Way, the
general director of the joint-stock company "Stimorol-Novgorod".

The chief arbiter of the super tournament Boris Postovsky
congratulated spectators and participants and
invited Philip Way and Vladimir Kramnik to sit down at the central
table to make the first symbolic moves.

Both of them shook hands, marking the growing partnership between the
ancient game and the new business.

At last, the grandmasters and the arbiters got some more flowers -
from children - members of the city club "Scarlet Sales".

The press

The grown authority of the super tournament in Novgorod is provided
by the participation of well-known chess reporters. The popular magazine
"64-Chess Observation" is represented by Yakov Damsky, the assistant of
the chief editor. As well, he will speak on radio daily - on Mayak
channel.

Ratko Knezhevich, the director of a famous international chess club
in Moscow "Yuissar from Riga", came to Novgorod for the first time.
His reports will be sent to "Belgrade Sports".

NTV is represented by agrand master Sergei Makarychev, a popular
chess commentator. he was a coach of Garri Kasparov just some time ago.

Vladimir Dvorkovich, an internatirnal umpire, being in Novgorod for the
third time, is asked to make reports for "Sports-Express".


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