A record 1,370 players from 157 countries are taking part in the 39th World Chess Olympics opening today the Siberian town of Khanty-Mansiisk.
Russia is represented by two men's and as many women's teams. The occasion will also see the selection of a new FIDE president to run the federation in the next four years.
Vying for the post are current FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov, put ahead by the US and French national chess federations.
