Participants and guests of the fourth FIDE Grand Prix series tournament are gathering in Nalchik. Vyacheslav Namruev, Chief Arbiter of the competition and a legendary chess player Nona Gaprindashvili, a technical advisor of the tournament have already come. Today Nona Gaprindashvili has met the Georgian Diaspora of the republic in the Celebration Palace "Elbrus".

The majority of the players as well as a Grandmaster and ex-champion Boris Spassky are expected to come tonight. Boris Spassky is an official chess analyst of the tournament.

The information bulletin both in Russian and in English with an abstract on Kabardino-Balkaria, games schedule, players' background information and their scores has been issued. The bulletin also includes greetings of the Deputy Prime-Minister of the Russian Federation and the President of the Russian Chess Federation Alexander Zhukov, KBR President Arsen Kanokov, the President of the Republic of Kalmykia and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Minister of Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policy of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko.  

Opening ceremony of the tournament and drawing of lots will take place tomorrow at 18.00 at the Musical Theater. There will be a great concert performed at the Theatre. Children exemplary musical groups will perform a musical composition "Chess Is My Favorite Game". "Golden" voices of the republic Albert Khupsegrenov, Alyi Tashlo, Mukhadin Batyrov, folklore dance groups "Kabardinka", "Balkaria", "Terskie Kazaki" and other popular variety actors will also take part in the concert.

Asiyat Abaeva, a member of the KBR Union of Artists will exhibit a series of her paintings "Magic of Chess" in the foyer of the Theatre.            
The tournament will be held from April 15 to April 30.
14 top Grand Masters will take part in the tournament. The winner of the competition will get the right to challenge the title of the World Champion. 

The prize fund of the tournament is €212,000. Evgeny Alekseev, a 2007 Russia Champion, Aleksandr Grishuk, the winner of Linares super tournament and Peter Svidler, five-time Russian Champion will play for Russia.