Ilyumzhinov, who heads FIDE since 1995 and is on his second trip to the island, visited on Sunday the pantheon where the mortal remains of the 1921-1927 world champion rest.

“He was not only one of the most intelligent men of world but an excellent person and he also excelled in other fields,” said the FIDE leader who was accompanied by the president of the Cuban Chess Federation, Silvino Garcia, and the National Commissioner, Osvaldo Diaz.

Ilyumzhinov arrived in Cuba on Sunday for a short working visit. As part of his agenda, he attended the final round of the annual Capablanca Memorial that concluded yesterday in Havana.