Former chess champion inaugurates 4,000-board simultaneous exhibition in Cuba

HAVANA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Former chess champion Russian native Grand master (GM) Anatoli Karpov on Monday will inaugurate a 4,000 board simultaneous exhibition at Havana's Computer Science University (UCI) at 18:30 local time.

Karpov, 56, arrived at Havana, Cuba's capital, on April 14 invited by Cuban sports officials to attend the 4th Cuban Sports Olympiad.

GM Karpov placed a floral offering on Cuban former world champion (1921-1927) Jose Raul Capablanca's grave (1888-1942) at Colon Cemetary in Havana.

Karpov visited the Physical Education and Sports International School at San Jose de las Lajas municipality, 30 kilometers southeast of Havana.

On Thursday Karpov will conclude his activities, including meetings with Sports Cuban Institute (INDER) officials and a visit to the Rehabilitation center for children affected by Chernobyl's nuclear accident in the former Soviet Union.

Karpov will participate in many other activities, including the reopening of the Capablanca Chess Club. Karpov was world chess champion on 1975-1985 and on 1993-1999.

This is Karpov second visit to Cuba, since he visited this Caribbean country on 2004 when he headed a giant 13,000 board simultaneous to close the 2nd Cuban Sports Olympiad.