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ChessVista.com is the website of chess photographer Frits Agterdenbos. The site provides the international chess community with high quality chess photos and chess news of chess players from international chess events. There will be visual reports and an album with chess photo collections showing all the visual aspects of the chess world.23.12.2006 When the 2005 World Chess Cup was announced to be held in Khanty-Mansiysk (West Siberia, Russia), journalists complained it was far and away. Moreover, it was much too cold to go there. Of course the qualified players did go to West Siberia since the 128 player knock out tournament was a qualifier for the Candidate Matches and there was a lot of money at stake. The mass event turned out to be a very well organized tournament. And yes indeed the temperature was minus a lot, but the cold was not unbearable. Half a year later in May 2006, in Turin, the 2010 Chess Olympiad was entrusted to Khanty-Mansiysk. The Khanty-Mansiysk bid included a promise to organize two World Chess Cups (2007, 2009) as well. By now the events are scheduled in the agenda. Meanwhile for the second time Khanty-Mansiysk hosted the Cup of the Governor 20 to 26 November 2006. Links: FIDE Calendar FIDE report on Cup of the Governor News of the Okrug report on Cup of the Governor Website on Khanty-Mansiysk Weather in Khanty-Mansiysk Khanty-Mansiysk on the map of Russia. The distance from Moscow to Khanty-Mansiysk is 2040 km, which takes 3 hours by Topulev. 37th Chess Olympiad 2006, Turin, Italy 38th Chess Olympiad 2008, Dresden, Germany 39th Chess Olympiad 2010, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia The Road to Khanty-Mansiysk (photo 2005-11-26) The World Chess Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk took place 26 November - 17 December 2005. Levon Aronian was the winner of the 128 player knock out tournament. The photo shows a press conference with Governor Alexander Filipenko, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Press Officer Berik Balgabaev (photo 2005-11-27). Alexander Filipenko, the Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Ugra (photo 2005-11-27) For the second time Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia hosted the tournament for the Cup of the Governor of the region, from 20 to 26 November 2006. 9 Regions of Russia and 5 other countries were represented by more than 110 chess players, including 8 GMs, 15 IMs and 5 FMs. The winners are: Tournament A - GM Bocharov, Dmitry from Novosibirsk, Russia Tournament B - IM Chuprov, Dmitry from Tobolsk, Russia Tournament C - Yoshan, Valery from Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (source: FIDE) GM Dmitry Bocharov (photo 2005-11-27), winner of the Cup of the Governor The Khanty-Mansiysk Bank was the main sponsor of the Cup of the Governor (photo 2005-12-02) Khanty-Mansiysk today: Today Khanty-Mansiysk presents not only the centre of oil region, but resembles more and more the centre of business activity, big sport, national culture and science and high technologies. Agencies, offices of okrug and federal structures, banks, oil, financial, leasing and insurance companies and funds are found here. More info: www.ugra-service.ru/english/khanty-mansiysk_en.htm World Chess Cup 2005 Billboard in Khanty-Mansiysk (photo 2005-12-03) Khanty-Mansiysk is the proud owner of a beautiful Biathlon Centre (photo 2005-12-03) The Nordic Ski Centre, Khanty-Mansiysk's Biathlon Centre, is one of the best biathlon centres in the world. It consists of a biathlon stadium, skiing routes, firing-lines, rope road, mountain skiing routes. It was built on the territory of the natural park Samarovsky Chugas. The Biathlon Centre is the venue of many strong international competitions, including the World Biathlon Cup Championship. More info: www.biathlon.ru/eng/main.html Organization Building of the Biathlon Centre (photo 2005-12-03) Siberian Trees surrounding Biathlon Centre (photo 2005-12-03) On the map of the world Khanty-Mansiysk is a top centre of Biathlon and soon also of Chess. Why are they doing all this? It is said Khanty-Mansiysk is afraid the oil wells are drying up and in the future other sources of income will be needed. The city wants to attract tourists. The step from Biathlon Centre to Winter Sports Centre is a serious option. Why not? European Ski ressorts fear the global warming as snow is staying away. Newspapers show green skiing centres in winter Alps. Will people fly all the way to West Siberia to put the skis on? We will see. The local people are working hard to put the city on the map of the world. (Report and photos by Frits Agterdenbos)