President of Russia Vladimir Putin today met with the Head of the Republic of Kalmykia, President of FIDE Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Further to the discussion on the topics in connection with the Republic of Kalmykia, President of Russia congratulated Mr. Ilyumzhinov on his re-election to the office of the President of the International Chess Federation, stressing that it is important to have one of our countrymen leading one of the largest international sports bodies. The FIDE President has informed the Russian President on the course of the preparation for the World Chess Championship match Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik and received the assurance from the Russian President that this match is considered highly prestigious and therefore, all the necessary assistance will be provided.

Mr. Ilyumzhinov also informed Mr. Putin on some of the FIDE programmes and in particular, Chess in Schools. The Russian President has expressed his interest in this programme and has instructed Mr. Andrei Fursenko, Minister of Education of the Russian Federation, to become acquainted with the experiences of teaching chess in schools in different countries with the further possibility of implementation in Russia.

The President of Russia promised his full support in the continued popularisation of chess in the Russian Federation.