Dear Friends!

Sverdlovsk Region is famous for not only its economic power but also for its achievements in sport. More than 7 thousand of different tournaments on more than 100 kinds of sport are held annually in our region. And even in this impressive list the Women's World Chess Championship is really an outstanding event.

64 top chess players arrived in Ekaterinburg to compare their strength in open and fair rivalry. 64 black and white squares of chess board will turn the capital of the Urals into the capital of world chess. Owing to this tournament, Ural citizens will get the chance to meet legendary chess players among which there will be current women's world chess champion Stefanova Antoaneta, five times women's world chess champion Chiburdanidze Maya, world vice-champions Kovalevskaya Ekaterina and Galliamova Alisa, girls world, Europe and Russia chess champions.

It is not an incident that Sverdlovsk Region has become the home of the Women's World Chess Championship. We have a strong regional chess federation which is headed by competent and talented chess players. The Women's International Tournament "North Urals Cup" became very popular and, which is more important, we have a lot of devoted lovers of this game – wise, bright, ancient and contemporary at the same time. I also belong to the numerous army of chess admirers.

I express appreciation to the organizers of the tournament and to the "Queens of Chess" for giving us a chance to become the participants of such an unforgettable event. I wish all the players and their supporters great success, bright impressions, positive emotions, prosperity, well and peace!

Eduard ROSSEL
Governor of Sverdlovsk Region