The closing ceremony of the first super tournament ever held in Turkey ??  Bank Atatürk International Women Masters took place in the ?? Bank Museum, where the players had a chance to see the history of the oldest bank of Republican Turkey.

Sports Minister of Turkish Republic Murat Ba?esgio?lu, FIDE and the President of the Republic of Kalmykia His excellence Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and General Director of Türkiye ?? Bank Ersin Özince delivered speeches in the closing ceremony in front of a media phalanx. The players received their trophies and medals afterwards.

We thank all the players for participating and showing some great fighting chess.

Farewell until the next major international event in Turkey!!

Closing Ceremony: A Magnificent Farewell to Players , Sport Minister Showing The Government's Support to Chess

The closing ceremony of 1.?? Bank Atatürk Women Masters Chess Tournament took place in ?? Bank Museum with the participation of Sports Minister of Turkish Republic Murat Ba?esgio?lu, FIDE and Kalmykia President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, General Director of Türkiye ?? Bank Ersin Özince and FIDE delegeates who were in Istanbul due to the Second Quarter Presidential Board Meeting.

The closing ceremony of 1.?? Bank Atatürk Women Masters Chess Tournament took place in ?? Bank Museum with the participation of Sports Minister of Turkish Republic Murat Ba?esgio?lu, FIDE and Kalmykia President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, General Director of Türkiye ?? Bank Ersin Özince and FIDE delegeates who were in Istanbul due to the Second Quarter Presidential Board Meeting.

After the national anthem, Mr.Özince took floor and stated that they were proud to organize such a super tournament together with Turkish Chess Federation with whom ?? Bank is dedicated to make Turkey a chess country. He stressed that chess and what chess represents are close to the values that ?? Bank would be proud to be associated with. He told the guests that "We will try to support chess in Turkey at every level and spread chess to the every corner of the country. I hope to see you again in newer projects and good news and bring chess  to the central place of Turkey's agenda" Özince also mentioned the launch of Turkish version of Playchess which he sees as a very valuable investment for Turkish chess which is provided for free around Turkey under the support of ?? Bank.

His excellence Kirsan Ilyumzhinov took the floor after Mr.Özince and stated that this tournament was the first of its kind in Turkey despite there has been many high-level tournaments organized before. He expressed his hope to see the continuation of the support by ?? Bank to Turkish and world chess. He mentioned his meeting with Sports Minister of Turkey Murat Ba?esgio?lu about the organization of World Women's Chess Championship in Turkey.

Sports Minister of Turkish Republic Murat Ba?esgio?lu took the floor and in his speech he thanked to the Turkish Chess Federation and its main sponsor Türkiye ?? Bank about their organization of such a beautiful organization. He stated that 1,5 million pupils are lectured chess courses in schools. He stated his belief that Turkey has the potential to organize the World Women's Chess Championship".

The President of Turkish Chess Federation Ali Nihat Yaz?c? presented a plaquette to General Director of Turkey ?? Bank Ersin Özince for the bank's support to chess.

In the ceremony, the winner Hou Yifan, the runner-up Pia Cramling and the third Xue Zhao received their medals and trophies afterwards.

 

3.ZHAO XUE (CHINA) 5.5/9

2. GM PIA CRAMLING (SWEDEN) 6/9

1.WGM YIFAN HOU (CHINA) 7/9

Pictorial Impressions

The players visited the second floor of ?? Bank Museum, which is the actual museum and found out more about one of the major sponsors of chess in the world.

Harika Dronavalli and Anna Ushenina in the left picture wandering the ?? Bank Museum's second floor. They found about the history of the bank and how it was important to found a national bank in the infant Turkish Republic back in 1924.


Left: Pia Cramling curious about the history of the bank.  Right: The guide was sweating after many questions by the stars of women's chess.


Left: First general Directorate of ?? Bank. Right: ?? Bank Towers, the newest building which is the tallest around the Southern Europe.


Two time European Champion Under 16, Kübra Öztürk's uniform together with new TCF ?? Bank licences which are ATM cards at the same time.

 

Left: Zhu Chen in a special passage to the private place where the museum has

 
Left: Ali Nihat Yaz?c? and Ersin Özince, the General Director (CEO) of ?? Bank with FIDE and President of Kalmykia Kirsan Ilyumzhinov Right: The Sports Minister Mr.Murat Ba?esgio?lu arrrives in the museum.

FIDE President His excellency Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Sports Minister Murat Ba?esgio?lu already know each other since they met about organization of some top level tournament in Turkey.