Anand-Gelfand: inspection of the playing hall

Yesterday Vishy Anand, Boris Gelfand, a number of officials and team members inspected the venue for the World Championship match: the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov Gallery. The official website reported:

In accordance with the match regulations for the chess crown, the world champion and the challenger for this title conducted an inspection of the match hall in the Engineering Building of the State Tretyakov Gallery.

The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Management Board of the Russian Chess Federation Ilya Levitov, Chief arbiter Ashot Vardapetyan, Match supervisor FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos, Appeals Committee Chairman Kurt Jungwirth, FIDE Vice President Israel Gelfer, Assistant to the FIDE President Berik Balgabaev and Chairman of the Israeli Chess Federation Moshe Slav.

Both chess players were satisfied with the match venue and organisation. After inspecting the match area, Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand gave an interview to channel “Russia-24”.

The match starts Thursday evening with the opening ceremony and then game 1 will be played on Friday. Besides the live video and commentary that we know from the Tal Memorial, it looks like we can expect excellent pictures as well on the official website. The organizers hired photographer Eteri Kublashvili and her first set of photos can be found in this gallery on the official website. Here's a (large) selection:

The theatre of the Engineering Building will be used as the playing hall

The glass windows are being finalized 

The booth for the commentary is ready to go

That way - we should be able to find it

Members of the Anand team (Eric van Reem on the left, Hans-Walter Schmitt on the far right) talk with Ilya Levitov, Chairman of the Management Board of the Russian Chess Federation

Reigning World Champ Vishy Anand testing his chair, his wife/manager Aruna behind him

Boris Gelfand already adjusting a few pieces

The two matadors behind the chess board for a few first pics - Israel Gelfer (FIDE) watching and Berik Balgabaev (FIDE) and Hans-Walter Schmitt (Anand team) with cameras

FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos, responsible for the World Championship cycle

FIDE Vice President Israel Gelfer

Gelfand and Anand, probably listening to a few more instructions related to the venue

Vishy Anand behing interviewed for the "Russia 24" TV channel...

...and Boris Gelfand as well