The event dedicated to Nona Gaprindashvili’s 75th anniversary which started with unveiling of the star in the yard of Tbilisi Chess Palace was followed by an anniversary evening in Rustaveli National Theater.
The invited guests made their speeches. The following artists participated in the anniversary evening: Eka Mamaladze, Maia Jabua, Liza Bagrationi, Gio Khutsishvili, “Shvidkatsa” and the Georgian National Ballet.
Gia Giorgadze (president of the Georgian Chess Federation): “I want to thank everybody, including the FIDE officials, representatives of the Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian chess federations who came to the anniversary evening.
If not Nona, we would not have Nana, Maia and the women’s chess team which won World Team Championship. We have decided to put up a monument to the glory of women’s chess. Today we are announcing a competition for its best project.
With the assistance of Davit Narmania, Mayor of Tbilisi, the entrance of Tbilisi Chess Palace was repaired. Hopefully, Tbilisi City Hall will finish its work…”.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov (FIDE president): “FIDE unifies 187 countries, which means chess is one of the most popular sports in the world. Mrs. Nona played a key role in popularization of this sport. On behalf of the World Chess Federation, I want to award Mrs. Nona with Caissa Cup”.
Zurab Azmaiparashvili (ECU president): “I have been in Mrs. Nona’s house. One of her rooms is filled with her prizes and gifts. I have no idea where Mrs. Nona will put today’s gifts. So, I have decided to invite her to one of the tournaments organized by the ECU and we will finance her. Mrs. Nona can choose her status. She can be a participant or a technical representative”.
Leri Khabelov (GNOC president): “Mrs. Nona is still a family member of the Georgian National Olympic Committee. She was the first president of the GNOC. I am holding the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s letter. He is congratulating Mrs. Nona on her anniversary. The GNOC established order of the Olympic Leader which is awarded to Mrs. Nona”.
Davit Narmania (Mayor of Tbilisi): “Today we have watched a film about Mrs. Nona’s achievements. It is only a small part of what she has done and is doing. I accept the challenge and we will try to renovate Tbilisi Chess Palace which will host interesting chess events”.
Mahir Mammadov (“Soccar” president, vice-president of the Azerbaijani Chess Federation): “People are still arguing who is the best man chess player, Alekhine, Fischer or Kasparov? Nona has no competitor among the women. She is the best. That is why Nona’s Cup has been established. The 2018 Chess Olympiad will take place in Azerbaijan and our country will try to win this Cup”.
Jansul Charkviani (poet): “Mrs. Nona, you have turned 75 and I am 85. I am giving all my years to you. Mrs. Nona, everybody loves you. The whole world knows you”.
Tariel Khechikashvili (Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs): “So much has been said about Mrs. Nona today. I will only add that Nona Gaprindashvili is bestowed with the Cavalier of Sports of Georgia”.
The representatives of the Russian and the Armenian chess federations also made their speeches.
Mrs. Nona’s grandson Nika Chichinadze dedicated a song to her grandmother.
Nona Gaprindashvili thanked the organizers of the anniversary evening and the guests, including former Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili.
