As it became known, all Grand chess-masters - participants of the International supertornament "Novgorod the Great" have already started preparations for the visit to Novgorod Vladimir Kramnick (Russia) with his trainer and assistants have been training in the districts near Moscow. Boris Gelfand (Belarus) is training in Yugoslavia.

The President of Russian chess association, the deputy of State Duma Andrey Selivanov (new chairman of Russian federation held this post in Andrey Makarov place), having met the Director of International chess supertournament "Novgorod the Great" Irina Kibina, had noted: "Novgorod tournament has became the visit card of Russian Chess". A number of ques- tions concerning future supertournament and perspectives for next 3 years have been discussed at the meeting.

Representatives of all national tele- and radio channels, all leading specialists of chess issues in the world (among them "Chess Base"), a great number of national newspapers, such as: "Komsomolskaja Pravda", "Moskovsky Komsomolets", "Moscow News", Arguments and Facts", "Labour", "Soviet Sport", "Today", "News", "Spotexpress", "Ogonjok", etc. show profound interest for the supertournament -97.

Radio "Europe Plus" is the official sponsor of the tournament.

The President of Kalmikia Kirsan Ilumginov will take part in ceremonial closing.

23 organizations have decided to help the supertournament financially. "Novgorod the Great" does not have official sponsor yet.

Russian Grand chess-master Vladimir Kramnick might have celebrated a peculiar jubilee today, 21 of May: this day appears as 8000 day in young Grand chess-masters life (he was born on 25 of June 1975). According to the moon calendar this day is the lucky one for him.

According do individual biorhythm-table, Vladimir will reach his highest point in June. However, biorhythm-table promises the out burst to Vesselin Topalov in June .

The champion of the world Garry Kasparov will have his highest intel- lectual level going along with emotional and physical balance.

The first summer month is favourable for all chess-masters for starting any kind of business.