Dear friends!

I'm heartily delighted to welcome the participants of World Chess Cup in Ugra! Undoubtedly this event is significant for sport and social life of autonomous okrug and Russia .

All conditions are created in the region for intensive development of this intellectual kind of sport, some traditions are introduced in training good chess players. During last years Ugra gained the reputation of chess centre, here international tournaments, competitions for Governor Cup, other chess competitions are held. Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug is preparing to meet World Chess Olympiad.

There is no doubt that another meeting of the world leading chess players will become the bright sport event full of interesting occasions, great victories, unforgettable impressions.

Dear participants and guests of World Chess Cup 2009!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the headship of international chess federation and Presidential Board I warmly and heartily welcome the participants, guests, Mass Media representatives at the hospitable Ugra land!

During the last years Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug – Ugra gained the reputation of a big sport centre, here winter sports competitions of the highest level are organized – in biathlon, skiing, snowboarding etc. I'm glad to note that hospitable Khanty-Mansiysk receives again the outstanding Grand Masters who got this right through the hard and arduous selection system.

I want to note that here chess have the real love and support. I express my appreciation to the headship of Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug and personally to the Governor, my senior friend, Alexander Filipenko, to all the sponsors, the Organizing Committee, Russian Chess Federation, Mass Media representatives, volunteers – to all who take active part in propaganda of the most intellectual kind of sport.

I'm sure that participants and guests of the World Chess Cup will be able not only to get acquainted with the Siberian beauty but also to take with them unforgettable impressions about this wonderful land.

I wish all the participants bright and uncompromising struggle, success in sport and creative work, good health and all the best!

Gens Una Sumus! We are the family!

Dear friends!

On behalf of the Russian Chess Federation I'm glad to welcome the participants, organizers and guests of World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk!

Today the capital of Ugra may be called with good reason one of the big world chess centers. This Russian town receives the World Cup for the third time. I'm sure that the experience in organizing the competitions of such a high international level will let Khanty-Mansiysk to hold honourably the 39 th World Chess Olympiad next autumn.

Almost all the strongest chess players gathered in Khanty-Mansiysk, during three weeks they will fight for victory, for the way into the tournament of the contenders and for the right to challenge the title of the world champion.