The FIDE Presidential Board rose from its meeting 28-29 February 2004 in Kotor, Montenegro, and took a number of far reaching decisions with respect to the implementation of the Prague Agreement and the World Chess Championships. Click here to see the list of Titles Approved

The meeting, which was chaired by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, mandated the President and the World Chess Championship Committee as well as the Continental President for Africa to finalise the dates and arrangements in respect of the World Chess Championship and Women`s World Chess Championship 2004. The Board noted with satisfaction the information of the FIDE President that the World Chess Championship shall be staged in Tripoli, Libya, in the second part of June 2004 under the patronage of the Leader of the Libyan Jamahirya, H.E. Moammar Al Gathafi, who also provides the prize fund for the Championship, while the Women`s event shall be hosted by one of the great chess countries, Georgia, in May 2004, either in Tbilisi or Batumi, on the invitation of H.E. Aslan Abashidze, Head of the Republic of Adjara, the dates of which shall be announced after 20 March 2004.

The Board noted the information of the FIDE President and Continental President for Asia Khalifa Al Hitmi regarding the successful staging of the SEA Games by Vietnam in December 2003. The FIDE President informed the Board of the interest shown by the Government of Vietnam to host one of the stages of the World Championship cycles in their country.

With regards to the hosting of the Chess Olympiad 2004, the Board noted the information that the preparation was in progress. Continental President for Europe B. Kutin also informed the Board of the preparations of the city of Turin for the Olympiad 2006.

The meeting was attended by the delegation of the German Chess Federation who presented their bid for the Chess Olympiad 2008 on behalf of the city of Dresden. The deadline for the bids is 15 April 2004.

The Board approved for the players from Kosovo to play in the international tournaments under FIDE flag while their ratings have to be calculated under SCG Federation.

Within the framework of the Halkidiki Congress 2003 decisions regarding various Chess in Schools programmes, the Board approved the affiliation of the Kasparov Chess Academy to FIDE, and recommended it for the final ratification by the General Assembly in Spain.

The Board applauded the efforts of the Continental President for Asia for the inclusion of chess into the program of the Asian Games 2006, scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar and approved the format for the Chess Events during these Games. It also approved the year 2004 as the Lyudmila Rudenko year in honour of the late Russian Women`s World Champion.

Finally, the Board resolved to thank the Government and people of Montenegro for the hospitality extended to members of the Presidential Board.