President Ilham Aliyev made the honorary first move

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev opened the first round of Chess Olympiad by making the honorary move 1.d4 in the game Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Rodwell Makoto of the match Azerbaijan-Zimbabwe.

President Aliyev also opened the Women section by moving 1.e4 for former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia) in the game with Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (Scotland).

Joining the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan were FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Baku Chess Olympiad and Azerbaijan’s first Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov, Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov, President of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation and Chairman of Central Bank Elman Rustamov, Director of the Chess Olympiad Mahir Mamedov, Chief Arbiter Faik Gasanov and Tournament Director Takis Nikolopoulos.

The Chess Olympiad started today with 180 teams competing in the Open section and 140 teams in the Women section. The playing venue is Crystal Hall in Baku.