By WFM Maria Emelianova

Official closing ceremony of the 3rd stage of Women Grand Prix Series 2013-14 was held in the Gallery of Fine Art of Tashkent on 30th of September. The ceremony was attended by many honoured guests such as the FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the Chairperson of Fund Forum's Board of Trustees Gulnara Karimova, the Minister of Culture and Sports of Uzbekistan Minhozhiddin Hozhimatov, the First Deputy Minister of Sports of Uzbekistan Zhasur Akramov, the Head of the Administration of Sports Rashid Talipov,  the Director of Tashkent branch of REU after G.V. Plekhanov acad. K.Kh. Abdurakhmanov, the Head of the Administration of Olympic reserve Kamil Bayazitov, the Head of The State Committee for Communication, Informatization and Telecommunication Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan Hurshid Mirzahidov and many others. 

 

     

The evening started with a tempting dance performed by young local ensemble.

   

The popular band "Sahro" had a lot of attention from young guests of the event.


Nilufar Usmanova



The winner's mother Koneru Latha and Harika Dronavalli with her grandmother Koganti Sudeshna behind.







Gulnara Karimova and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov have big plans for chess in Tashkent!



FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov thanked everyone for a beautifully organised event, said many warm words to organisers, sponsors and guests of the tournament, and announced, that FIDE is going to co-operate with Fund Forum, Uzbek Chess Federation the Government of Uzbekistan in order to organise many other interesting and strong chess tournaments in Tashkent.



The Chairperson of Fund Forum's Board of Trustees Gulnara Karimova congratulated the players and everyone who worked on the tournament with many beautiful games, big achievements and noted how it is honourable to be here among "the smartest women of the world"!

After holding the speeches Gulnara Karimova and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov started the most awaited part of the evening -
the Prize-giving Ceremony:


Third place - Kateryna Lagno, Ukraine.



Second place - Bela Khotenashvili, Georgia.

  

And the winner - Humpy Koneru, India!







Kirsan Ilyumzhinov thanked everyone again...



...and awarded Gulnara Karimova with a Diploma "For taking an active part in organising the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Tashkent"!



Right after the finish of the ceremony Kirsan Nikolayevich gave an interview to the local TV with fantastic news: FIDE already agreed with Gulnara Karimova that next year Tashkent again will invite the strongest players to compete on a Silk Road. One of the stages of Men's Grand Prix Series 2014-15 will be held in Tashkent again!


Tashkent is saying good bye! But not for long...


For all photos from the closing ceremony kindly visit the Photo Gallery