11 November 2016

The World Championship Match Opens in New York

Magnus Carlsen will play White in the first game.

The opening ceremony of the World Chess Championship Match took place on Thursday, November 10, in the Plaza Hotel, New York. The chief arbiter Takis Nikolopoulos (Greece) carried out the drawing of lots. The World Champion Magnus Carlsen drew a white king and therefore will play the first game as White.

Two press-conferences preceded the ceremony. Both took place in the Fulton Market – the match venue. The first once was given by both title contenders, FIDE Vice-President Israel Gelfer, head of Agon Ilya Merenzon, chief arbiter Takis Nikolopoulos, and executives of the sponsoring companies Andrey Guryev (PhosAgro, Russia) and Michael Stanton (EG Capital Advisors, USA). The second press-conference was organized for the Russian-speaking journalists. The questions were addressed to Sergey Karjakin, Andrey Guryev, Ilya Merenzon, RCF President Andrey Filatov, and Moscow Chess Federation President Vladimir Palikhata. Dmitry Peskov, Chairman of RCF Board of Trustees and Press Secretaty of Vladimir Putin, was present at both gatherings as a guest and attentive onlooker. 

The first game starts tonight at 10 pm Moscow time. 

Official site  

Photos by Vladimir Barsky