12 December 2006 the Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov visited the town of Gorodets, Nizhegorodskaya oblast region and took part in the closing ceremony of the Russian Women`s Championship Superfinal. WGM Ekaterina Korbut of Saint-Petersburg won this prestigious tournament and achieved a GM Norm.

In his speech Mr. Ilyumzhinov expressed confidence that Gorodets will host more chess events of international level and this was confirmed by the negotiations carried out immediately after the closing ceremony with the Deputy Governor of the Nizhegorodskaya oblast region Viktor Klochay and the Vice-President of the Russian Chess Federation Valery Zubov. Mr. Klochay expressed an interest to organize a traditional Russia vs China Match next year and the World Women’s Chess Championship 2008.

Mr. Ilyumzhinov also played a simultaneous game against 7 young chess players of Gorodets.