In the fall of 2002, Moscow welcomed the participants of the match Russia vs the World. The names of the principal members of the teams are well known: Kasparov and Karpov, Kramnik and Ponomariov, Anand and Ivanchuk. This Match of the Century was in favor of the World team, the members of which were mainly from the former Soviet Union.

Similar chess competitions had happened twice in the past, in Belgrade in 1970 and in London in 1984. In previous times, such matches were not only sport events, but also tools in the political struggle between the two opposing Soviet and Western camps. Twice, these two worlds met at the chess board, and twice the Soviet Union won. Eighteen years have passed since the last match. The Soviet Empire broke up and there’s no iron curtain or political opposition any more. In this match, the World team took its revenge. And this was a clear victory!

To the participants and guests of the chess match “Russia Vs. the World”.

I welcome the participants and guests of the chess match ?Russia VS. the World?. Our country is deservedly famous for its chess school and its long history of victories in the one of most ancient sport arts. Today Moscow is welcoming the most talented and renowned sportsmen to the competition that promises to be a very interesting and exciting event.

I am sure that the match will not only become a festival of Big Chess but will promote peace, friendship and mutual understanding between people.

I wish this match to become a major international event and I wish good health, success and good luck to the participants.

Vladimir Putin
The President of Russia.