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Welcome address by Gia Giorgadze, President of Georgian Chess Federation |
I am delighted to offer our respectable guests and the participants of Grand Prix the most hospitable welcome on behalf of Georgian Chess Federation.
The capital city of Georgia-Tbilisi-will host the planet’s most famous chess players’ competitions from 14th February. Champions of the whole world and Europe, winners of Chess Olympiads – it is a short list of our participants’ titles which they have earned throughout their careers.
Our lovely (and one of the most ancient) capital city has an outstanding tradition of hospitability and I strongly believe that our guests will never forget days spent in Tbilisi and those days will become pleasing memories for them.
Tbilisi has a rich past in the field of chess. Each of our legendary chess players, Nona Gaphrindashvili and Maia Chiburdanidze, owned the title of World Champion for five times. It is impossible not to mention that the team fully completed by Georgian players won Women Chess Olympiad seven times.
I can hardly find words to express my gratitude towards the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia, general sponsor of Chess Federation-“Socar Energy Georgia”, Tbilisi City Hall and Tbilisi City Assembly for assisting and supporting us.
I definitely believe that merciless competitions will be held in Tbilisi. Millions of Chess lovers will see them in the whole world. I hope that the participants of the tournament will fight obstinately for every single score.
I wish you a successful game!
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