FIDE CiS Chairman and FIDE Vice-President Ali Nihat Yazici has made an official visit to Iranian capital, Tehran, on the 30-31 of January. The purpose of the meeting was to coordinate the activities concerning chess in schools project in Iran. The President of Iran Chess Federation Mohammad Jafar Kambuzia welcomed the distinguished guest with famous Iranian hospitality.

On December 24^th, 2012 the first all-Ukrainian roundtable discussion seminar “Chess in Schools: theory, implementation, experience” was held in Kiev. The seminar was organized by Ukrainian Chess Federation and Ukrainian Charity Foundation “Chess for Children”.

Over 60 leading chess specialists from all over Ukraine came to attend the seminar. Among them were famous chess coaches, experienced chess teachers, methodologists, heads of chess schools and centers, authors of the best programs, books and textbooks on teaching chess. The event started with a welcome speech by the President of Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin. He talked about plans and perspectives of implementation of “Chess in Schools” program on a national level and expressed his hope that this seminar will establish a good tradition of regular meetings of all chess professionals to share experience, discuss and find solutions to the most urgent up-to-day issues.

Another of a long series of training days around the world, sponsored by our global sponsor Rosneft, was held in Chinese capital Beijing  on November 25^th 2012.

Every kid received a free T-shirt and cap and got to play in a simul against the best Chinese players. Among the grandmasters who challenaged the young talents was former Women’s World Champion Xu Yuhua (she was a champion in 2006-2008) – she makes the first moves in her simultaneous excibition on the picture below.

"I'd like chess in Ukraine to get a new impulse. We have a lot of strong players, but it is desirable that a new generation grows, that children come to chess. Of course, most of them won't become champions, but studying chess is very good for development. As maximum, I'd like that chess becomes a subject in schools, as minimum, I'd like more children to study chess".