TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iranian chess grandmaster Ehsan Qaem Maqam was invited to Swiss diplomatic mission in Tehran on the occasion of the World Chess Day (July 20) and played a “short friendly match” with Swiss ambassador to Iran Markus Leitner.
Qaem Maqami, 37, is the record holder of the Iranian Chess Championship with 13 titles. He won the title of the Iranian Chess Grandmaster in 2000.
He attended the Swiss mission in Tehran on July 19 and discussed the progress of chess in Iran, IRNA reported.
Switzerland is the host of the world chess federation, usually referred to by its French acronym FIDE, (Fédération Internationale des Échecs). The international body connects the various national chess federations and acts as the governing body of international chess competition.
According to Qaem Maqami Ambassador Leitner had great information about Iranian chess players and positive views towards Iran’s sport.
The Swiss diplomat hailed Iranian talented chess players noting that they are well-known around the world and their performance is monitored by the international community.
In another development, the Swiss diplomatic mission in Tehran had earlier wrote in a Twitter message: “Why are Iranians, such excellent chess players? How is it to play for a Swiss chess club? What is a grandmaster’s next challenge? Fascinating conversation + a (short) friendly match on #WorldChessDay with Iranian chess grandmaster Ehsan Ghaem-Maghami.”
International Chess Day is celebrated annually on July 20, the day the International Chess Federation was founded, in 1924. The idea to celebrate this day as the international chess day was proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated as such since 1966 after it was established by FIDE.
- source : Iran Daily, Irannews
