Kirsan Reelected by Wide Margin, 96 vs. 54

Friday, 02 June 2006 00:00

Incumbent FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was reelected by a wide margin with 96 votes against Bessel Kok`s 54. In his address after his reelection, Kirsan pledged to attend to the concerns raised by the Bessel Kok campaign and, in the FIDE spirit of `Gens Una Sumus` invited his workers to join the FIDE team. Kok in turn thanked his supporters and called the election a fair fight with secret voting. The FIDE General Assembly applauded as the two protagonists gave each other a warm embrace.

After his reelection, a smiling FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov receives congratulations from a long queue of delegates at the FIDE General Assembly. Behind him in photo, Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos and Honorary President Florencio Campomanes are all smiles as well.

Kirsan addressing the General Assembly prior to the vote, emphasized his record of ten years of hard work for chess.

In his address, Bessel Kok praised the FIDE workers and Kirsan`s generosity while offering a new team and vision for FIDE.

Asian women congratulate Kirsan. From left are Dr. Pung of Indonesia, Miyoko Watai of Japan, Lee SongOk of Korea and Tian Hongwei of China.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nehyan congratulating Kirsan.

Members of the Presidential Board at the General Assembly session.

Kirsan Reelected by Wide Margin, 96 to 54

Incumbent FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was reelected by a wide margin with 96 votes against Bessel Kok`s 54. The two protagonists praised each other for their love for chess. In his address after his reelection, Kirsan pledged to attend to the concerns raised by the Bessel Kok campaign and, in the FIDE spirit of `Gens Una Sumus` invited his workers to join the FIDE team. Kok in turn thanked his supporters and called the election a fair fight with secret voting. The FIDE General Assembly applauded as the two gave each other a warm embrace.

At the start of the General Assembly, a board of Canvassers was appointed to review proxies and establish a quorum. The board consisted of FIDE Honorary Member Casto Abundo of the Philippines and former FIDE Executive Director Emmanuel Omuku of Nigeria for the Kirsan team, and former Noureddine Tabbane of Tunisia and lawyer Eric P.A. Keyzer representing the Bessel Kok team.

The question of representation of the Peru Chess Federation, which was a matter for the board to decide, was brought to plenary session and this caused further delay as the matter was debated. In the end, the decision of the Board of Canvassers not to allow Peru to vote was the ultimate result as the two opposing sides could not come to an agreement.

Carol Jarecki, representing the British Virgin Islands, called the roll as Allan Herbert of Barbados stamped, signed and handed out ballots.

At the end of the first day, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov appointed Zurab Azmaiparashvili of Georgia, Nizar El Haj of Libya and Khalifa Al Hitmi of Qatar as FIDE Vice Presidents.