The FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov sincerely congratulates all National Chess Federations, chess players and chess friends on the occasion of the coming New Year! Best wishes of health, prosperity and happiness. Let the coming year bring all of you success and more victories! The Elista FIDE Office joins these warmest wishes and would like to inform that the office will be on vacations for the period 1 - 10 January 2008. Thank you for your understanding.

Grand Prix Standings after 3 events http://elista2008.fide.com/  Sunday, 28 December 2008 Player Baku   08 Sochi   08 Elista   08 Total Played Teimour Radjabov (AZE) 60 150 153,33 363,33 3 Wang Yue (CHN) 153,33 120 80 353,33 3 Vugar Gashimov (AZE) 153,33 65 110 328,33 3 Alexander Grischuk (RUS) 105 45 153,33 303,33 3 Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) 90 153,33 243,33 2 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) 105 80 185,00 2 Levon Aronian (ARM) 180 180,00 1 Gata Kamsky (USA) 60 120 180,00 2 Peter Svidler (RUS) 85 90 175,00 2 Sergey Karjakin (UKR) 60 90 150,00 2 Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) 35 45 50 130,00 3 Etienne Bacrot (FRA) 15 80 95,00 2 Peter Leko (HUN) 80 80,00 1 Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB) 80 80,00 1 Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) 65 65,00 1 David Navara (CZE) 35 15 50,00 2 Pavel Eljanov (UKR) 35 35,00 1 Evgeny Alekseev (RUS) 35 35,00 1 Boris Gelfand (ISR) 30 30,00 1 Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) 15 15 30,00 2 Vladimir Akopian (ARM) 15 15,00 1 Magnus Carlsen (NOR) 153,33 withdrew Michael Adams (ENG) 85 withdrew

Rustam Kasimdzhanov the only winner, other games drawn After a torrent of decided games on Thursday, 11th round of the Elista Grand Prix finished with draws in all but one game. Nevertheless, the players were still in the fighting mode and majority of the games continued deep into the second time control.

Dear Chess Friends, Each year during the holiday season, we take great pleasure and send a heartfelt message to all our best friends. We are pleased this time has come again to extend to you our sincere gratitude because it is good friends like you that make our work in the World of Chess possible.

Alexander Grischuk Rolling in Elista Grand Prix Cheparinov and Kasimdzhanov also win in round eight Alexander Grischuk wins third consecutive game to take over the lead in Elista Grand Prix.

Round 7 results:   Gashimov, Vugar Bacrot, Etienne ½-½ Jakovenko, Dmitry Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar ½-½ Inarkiev, Ernesto Radjabov, Teimour 1-0 Wang Yue Akopian, Vladimir ½-½ Alekseev, Evgeny Grischuk, Alexander 0-1 Lékó, Peter Kasimdzhanov, Rustam ½-½ Eljanov, Pavel Cheparinov, Ivan 1-0 Standings after 7 rounds:   1-2. Gashimov, Vugar AZE 2703 4½ 1-2

Dear Mr. President, The Armenian Chess Federation confirms that it will organize one of the FIDE Grand-Prix tournaments in August 2009 in Yerevan. We guarantee the organization of the event in accordance with the FIDE regulations

One of the most important figures in Yugoslavian and Serbian chess Belgrade Chess Union is saddened to inform the chess public that International Master Nikola Karaklajic passed away on 16th December in Belgrade, at the age of 83. Nikola Karaklajic was born on 24th February 1926 in Belgrade. He learned how to play chess at the beginning of the elementary school, but only after the second World War he started entering in tournaments and quickly showed great talent.

Chess Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk refused to submit a urine sample for a drug test at the Chess Olympiad in Dresden and is now considered guilty of doping. The world of chess is outraged that he could face a two-year ban. Professional chess player Vassily Ivanchuk, born in Berezhany, Ukraine in 1969, has been a grandmaster for the past 20 years and is currently ranked third in the world.

Elista FIDE Office reminds all National Chess Federations of the deadline of 15 December 2008 for tournaments to be included in the 1st January 2009 FIDE Rating List.