Belarus Grandmaster Aleksej Aleksandrov successfully defended his title by winning the Mumbai Mayor's Cup on Friday. LIC of India co-sponsored the event organised by the Venus Chess Academy. Aleksandrov beat Mark Paragua of Philippines in the last round to finish the tournament with 9.5 points and retain his title along with a prize money of about $6000.
Legendary 13th World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov has written tweeted and posted on his Facebook page a clarification to the recent interview given to to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he is firmly committed to push FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov out of office. (The interview was given to Stefan Löffler in Moscow on the sidelines of the Anand-Gelfand World Chess Championship, 2012. (You can read the previous post on the comment Breaking Chess News: Kasparov Likely to run for Fide Presidency 2014)
Meanwhile, Kasparov has said, "To clarify the recent news reports, it is true that I think it is essential to do whatever is necessary to remove Kirsan Ilyumzhinov from the International Chess Federation (FIDE). And if that means running for FIDE president myself in 2014, it is possible but not the real priority. What is Important is taking FIDE and Chess back from Ilyumzhinov, who brings disgrace after disgrace to the sport by meeting with murderous dictators while ignoring the opportunities to bring chess INTO education systems around the world. I will post a long article on my thoughts about the future of chess and FIDE after this weekend's 10th anniversary event for the Kasparov Chess Foundation in Bryant Park in New York City. It is from 10am to 2pm on June 16 with a kids' tournament and more. If you can attend I will see you there!" Kasparov also tweeted similarly.
Leading design agency Pentagram has been hired to rebrand the World Chess Championships, after the World Chess Federation (FIDE) accorded the commercial rights to the sport to technology entrepreneur Andrew Paulson.
Mr Paulson struck the deal with Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, president of FIDE, to host the championships and provide long-term commercial structure for the game, with an increased prize fund of 5.4 million euros, according to a latest press release.