Cercle Artistic- Boscos

El duelo mas esperado de este fin de semana, en la tercera ronda del Campeonato de Menorca por Equipos de Ajedrez, el que enfrentaba a los dos equipos de Ciutadella, Cercle Artistic- Boscos, en casa de los primeros, no defraudo y se saldo con empate a dos, despues de 4’5horas de dura lucha.

En el primer tablero, el MF Santi Pons se impuso con negras al MF Joan Cubas, en el segundo, tablas entre Lluis Villalonga y MF David Pons, en el tercer tablero, Jose Martinez se impuso con las piezas blancas a Joan Bosch y en el cuarto tablero, otras tablas entre Alfredo aguiló y Liberto Triay. Los otros encuentros que debían disputarse, se suspendieron a causa de los posibles problemas de desplazamiento a causa del mal tiempo. En primera categoria, el Cercle Artistic “B”, es lider con tres victorias en otras tantas rondas.

La tercera ronda fue atípica, puesto que sólo se jugaron los encuentros entre equipos de Ciutadella; con la irrupción de la nieve se aplicó la profilaxis y se evitó los desplazamientos por carretera. Ahora los capitanes de los equipos afectados por los aplazamientos deberán acordar la fecha para jugarlos, fijar como tope el 1 de marzo (festivo – Dia de les Illes Balears).

El que fuera una ronda atípica no le quita su importancia ni su emoción, así en preferente el match entre el campeón y subcampeón del año pasado acabó en tablas, con superpartida entre MF’s, que acabó con la victoria de Santi Pons sobre Joan Cubas. En primera el Cercle Artístic B se confirma como el máximo favorito al ascenso.

Resultados Preferente

Emparejamientos por mesas

Resultados Primera

Emparejamientos por mesas

Fase previa Ajedrez Escolar

Sigue la fase previa del ajedrez escolar, el viernes 10 de febrero habrá concentración en Es Castell (Centre de Cultura 17 a19h); en Ciutadella, en es Mercadal y en Alaior, donde se aprovechará las escuelas de ajedrez del Cercle Artístic (de lunes a jueves a partir de las 16h 30´), de la Fundación Carlos Sebastián (viernes de 18 a 20h) y de las APIMA’s de los CP Dr. Comas y Mestre Duran (martes de 17h30′ a 20h). Queda por decidir cuando se hará la jornada en es Migjorn.

La competición insular comienza el viernes 24 de febrero. Las bases del sub-10 se redactarán cuando se conozca el número de inscritos. La fecha tope para apuntarse a ambos torneos es el martes 21 de febrero (incluido).

Vallejo, En el open Aeroflot

Por otra parte, decir que el GM Menorquin actual nº1 Español, Paco Vallejo, disputara desde el dia 7 y hasta el proximo 17 de febrero, el Open Aeroflot, a disputar en Moscu.

Este Open, de los mas prestigiosos a nivel mundial, y en el cual se han inscrito 500 ajedrecistas de todo el planeta, cuenta con una nomina de mas de 70 Grandes Maestros en el grupo A, entre los que destacan el Italiano Fabiano Caruana, el ruso Ian Neponmiachtchi, el Vietnamita Le Quang Liem o el Georgiano Baadur Jobava, entre muchos otros.

El vencedor de este torneo, se embolsara 20000€. En el grupo C, tambien va a participar el ajedrecista de Es Castell, Santiago Escandell.

Informa: Deporte Balear  fuente: esportsmenorca.com

Artículos relacionados:

• Comienza el Campeonato de Menorca 2012 de Ajedrez por equipos
• Tres líderes tras la segunda ronda del campeonato de Menorca por equipos de Ajedrez
• Mañana empieza el Campeonato de Menorca de Ajedrez por equipos 2012

Ajedrez Menorca

Disputada la segunda ronda del campeonato de Menorca por equipos, el Centre Cultural es Castell “A”, club escacs Boscos y Cercle Artistic de Ciutadella, son lideres, los tres con 2 victorias.

El equipo de Es Castell consiguió vencer en su dificil visita al club escacs Ferreries, por un ajustado 1’5/2’5, el Boscos gano claramente al segundo equipo de Es Castell, por 3’5/0’5, el mismo resultado que el Cercle Artistic consiguio en su visita a Mercadal.

La segunda ronda nos dejó resultados claros, salvo en Ferreries, donde el final del match de preferente fue de infarto. Reaparciones con victoria de Santi Florit (después de 4 anos de ausencia por obligaciones institucionales) y de Domingo Moll Gómea de la Tía (campeón de Menorca de 1980 !!).

Resultados categoria Preferente

Resultados categoria Primera

El proximo sabado, en lo que sera la tercera ronda, destaca el enfrentamiento entre los dos equipos de Ciutadella, Cercle Artistic- Boscos, actuales campeon y sub-campeon, respectivamente. Cabe destacar la reaparicion de dos ajedrecistas menorquines destacados, estos son el fuerte jugador del Centre Cultural Es Castell, Santiago Florit Gomila, que por motivos laborales hacia 5 años que no jugaba, y del jugador del Cercle Artistic, Domingo Moll Gomez De la Tia, campeon absoluto en el año 1980, y alejado de los tableros desde hace mas de 20 años. En primera categoria, comandan la tabla el Cercle Artistic “B”, y el Cercle Artistic “C”, ambos con cuatro puntos.

Por otro lado comentar que empieza la fase previa del ajedrez escolar, el viernes 3 de febrero habrá concentraciones previas en Maó (Consell Insular de Menorca 16 a18h) y Ferreries (17 a 19h); en Ciutadella y en es Mercadal aprovecharemos las escuelas de ajedrez del Cercle Artístic (de lunes a jueves a partir de las 16h 30´) y de la Fundación Carlos Sebastián (viernes de 18 a 20h). Queda por decidir cuando se harán las jornadas en los demás municipios, ya os informaré. La competición insular comienza el viernes 24 de febrero.

Juanjo Carretero Cacho vuelve al ajedrez de competición en Zaragoza, puede consultarse su debut en un torneo de rápidas en el siguiente enlace

Artículos relacionados:

• Comienza el Campeonato de Menorca 2012 de Ajedrez por equipos
• Cercle Artistic- Boscos enfrentamiento local en el Insular por Equipos de Ajedrez
• Mañana empieza el Campeonato de Menorca de Ajedrez por equipos 2012

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess 2012

2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
CHESS FESTIVAL

Monday 23 January – Thursday 2 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE 15  28, January 2012

REPORT BY Stewart Reuben Friday 27 January 2012

One of the glories of the congress is the ambience at the Caleta Hotel of an evening. Grandmasters and patzers (that means a weak player in chess) mingle together socially at the bar. Where else can you expect to hear some people discussing the latest wrinkles in opening theory while elsewhere Maria Yarur is accompanying herself singing on the ukulele? She and I even danced a little. The applause was… err, polite for me. Moreover this evening Judit Polgar, the strongest female player in history, gave a well-attended master class. She showed her R2 game v Vyacheslav Ikonnikov, and then chatted for at least another half hour on various aspects of her career. She provided entertainment and education for players of all strengths and took questions from the audience.

Tonight the weather has changed. After beamish weather this year it finally started to rain and, as I write, I can hear the waves dashing against the rocks – which personally I enjoy.

Both Challengers A and Amateur A concluded today. Some people went home happier, richer and wiser. There are higher prize funds in rating restricted tournaments in the US, but very few elsewhere. Indeed many events have only the one big open section. The Amateur events are being FIDE Rated for the first time. In due course this will mean there will be far fewer unrated players in the event. This will make it easier to assign players to the correct section.

Vea Odin Blikra has played in all 10 congresses and won prizes in most.

Results Round 4 on 2012/01/27

The story of the game on Board 28 is interesting. GM Emanuel Berg SWE played against IM Melia Salome GEO. The game went on and on and eventually she claimed a draw on the 50 move rule. But she was wrong; they had only played 49 moves without a capture or pawn move. Thus the arbiter quite correctly awarded Emanuel three extra minutes. The Swede played a pawn move h4 and the game continued. Eventually it was agreed drawn on move 161. The average length of a game of chess is about 40 moves. But 161 is not a record for Gibraltar, an earlier encounter lasted 167 moves. It is necessary to have a rule in any sport where there can be an unlimited number of moves. Thus tennis has its tiebreaks.

The top two board games were drawn today. Ignorant people assume this means the games must have been boring. What nonsense! A well-played draw can be just as entertaining as a win; in fact possibly more so as there may be fewer gross errors. Anyway this means that now there is nobody with 100% and 11 players with 3½/4.

Hou Yifan CHN v Michael Adams ENG

This was an accurately played draw where neither player made a major error.

Sabino Brunello ITA v Nigel Short ENG

This was another very accurate game with repetition after 28 moves.

Le Quang Liem Vietnam v Ruben Felgaer ARG (D10)

It is very difficult to point a finger at Ruben’s losing move. It just seemed to creep up on him. This line in the Slav isn’t all that common.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e4 b5 5.a4 b4 6.Nb1 Ba6 7.Qc2 e5 8.Nf3 b3 9.Qc3 Qb6 10.a5 Qb7 11.Bd2 exd4 12.Qxd4 c5 13.Qd5

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Nc6 (After 13…Qxd5 Fritz 5 ‘thinks’ Black has the edge) 14.Bxc4 Nf6 15.Qd3 Nb4 16.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 17.Nbd2 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Qxc4 19.Nxc4 Nxe4 20.0–0 Be7 21.Rfe1 f5 22.Ra3 0–0 23.Rxb3 Rab8 24.Rxb8 Rxb8 25.Nfe5 Rb4 26.Rd1 Bf6 27.f3 Ng5 28.Rd7 Nf7 29.Nxf7 Rxc4 30.Rxa7 Bd4+ 31.Kf1 Rc1+ 32.Ke2 c4 33.Rb7 Rc2+ 34.Kd1 Rxg2 35.Nd6 g6 36.Nxc4 Rxh2 37.a6 Rh1+ 38.Ke2 Ra1 39.Rd7 Bg1 40.Rd1 Rxd1 41.Kxd1 Kf7 42.Ke2 f4 43.Kf1 Bd4 44.b4 Ke6 45.b5 Kd5 46.b6 Kc6 47.a7 Kb7 48.Na5+ Ka8 49.b7+ Kxa7 50.Nc6+ Kxb7 51.Nxd4 g5 52.Ne6 h6 53.Nd8+ Kc7 54.Nf7 1–0

Judit Polgar HUN v Humpy Koneru IND

I believe this was the first time the women’s World Number 1 and Number 3 have ever met. The only all female event Judit has ever played in is the Women’s Olympiad. This is her first open tournament for many years. One would have liked to have seen more fireworks, but you can’t legislate for these things.

Alberto David LUX v Alexei Shirov LAT

Alexei joined in the Commentary Room as usual. When asked why he played the seemingly provocative 15…Kf6, he said, ‘It was the only move to give me chances’. Someone in the audience said it was mentioned as a footnote in Fischer’s ‘My 60 Memorable Games’, first published in the 1960s. Of course it is impossible to remember all opening theory.

Viktor Laznicka CZE v Kaido Kulaots EST

14…Bxd4 would have left the position more-or-less equal, but the Estonian played more provocatively. He has a reputation for this type of approach.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Qc2 0–0 11.Be2 Nf6 12.0–0 Ng4 13.Bf4 cxd4 14.cxd4 e5 15.Nc4 Qc7 16.Bg3 b5 17.h3

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Most of us would be content with 17…Nh6 and equality. Not that the text loses.

17…Nxf2 18.Rxf2 bxc4 19.Bxc4 Bb7 20.Qd3 Kh8 21.Rc1 Rac8 22.d5 f5 23.Rfc2 Qd6 24.Bb3 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 Rc8??

.

26.Qxc8+ Bxc8 27.Rxc8+ Bf8 28.Rxf8+ 1–0

PLEASE NOTE

Judit Polgar Master Class

Recorded live from the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival

Part 1: Analyzing the game Polgar – Ikonnikov from round 2:
Runtime: 36 minutes
Link: http://blip.tv/gibchess/polgar-master-class-part-1-5915630

Part 2: Q & A with live audience and online questions via Twitter:
Runtime: 31 minutes
Link: http://blip.tv/gibchess/polgar-master-class-part-2-5915646

ALL videos from Gibraltar are available for on-demand replay:
http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/videos.htm

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE

www.gibraltarchesscongress.com

Artículos relacionados:

• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez Lunes 23 de enero – Jueves 02 de febrero 2012
• 256 jugadores de ajedrez de más de 60 países han hecho sus movimientos de apertura esta tarde en la sección Masters del Festival de Ajedrez 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar.
• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess 2012

2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
CHESS FESTIVAL

Monday 23 January – Thursday 2 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE 14   27, January 2012

Thursday 26 January 2012 report by Stewart Reuben on Round 3 of the Masters

Participation of female players in this congress is very important to the whole ethos of this congress. Our webmaster, Steve Connor, reminded me I intended to comment on the passing of Elaine Pritchard, who died very recently and whose career spanned a major period in women’s chess. In a way, it is fortuitous that the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival can be regarded as a memorial to her. She was a child prodigy in the late 1930s (which must have been very unusual for a girl in that period). She remembered sitting on Vera Menchik’s knee. Vera was the first-ever Women’s World Champion and won the World Girls title the same year. Elaine won the World Girls in 1936 at the age of 10 and again in 1937. She was British Ladies Champion in 1939, 1946, 1955 and 1965. Her last FIDE Rating was 2150. In her period, women mainly played separately from men. For more details, see:

http://www.englishchess.org.uk/?p=16227.

* refers to female

Nigel Short ENG v Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE

Nigel won a very nice, easy game. It was predicted he would reach the Commentary Room by 6.15pm, but he made it by 6.01pm.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d3 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Nf1 Nc5 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Ng3 Bf8 15.b4 Ne6

(15 Ncd7 is more common)

16.d4 g6 17.Bd2 Nd7 18.Bb3 Qf6 19.d5 Nf4

(Although Black has a nicely placed knight, Nigel felt the rest of his pieces were just in a tangle. The pressure on the c file was unbearable for Black.)

20.c4 Nb6 21.Rc1 bxc4 22.Bxc4 Nxc4 23.Rxc4 Rac8 24.Qc2

24…Be7 (24…Nxh6ch seems attractive. But there follows 25 gxh6 Qxf6 26 Bg5 trapping the queen.)  25.Bxf4 exf4 26.Ne2 Bd8 27.Ned4 Rb8 28.Qa4 Kf8 29.Nc6 Bxc6 30.Rxc6 Qb2 31.a3 f5 32.e5 1–0

In the final position, Black’s queen is all dressed up with nowhere to go.

Michael Adams ENG v Daniel Fridman GER

It is heart-warming to see the two leading English players on the top two boards in the Masters. Even better, they both won. What could be more appropriate in this extremely patriotic setting? Michael sacrificed a pawn in return for weakening Black’s kingside, a very long-term plan indeed. His handling of the delicate endgame put Black under so much pressure that he eventually won. 53 move games don’t usually win the £1000 Best Game Prize, but this could be the exception.

Hou Yifan CHN v Zoltan Almasi HUN

Another elegant game played by Hou Yifan, the 17 year old Women’s World Chess Champion. The Berlin Wall is regarded as virtually impregnable, but she chipped away at its foundations.

Le Quang Liem VIE v Mircea-Emilian Parligras  ROU

Basically they shuffled around until the music stopped. But doing nothing extremely well is a characteristic of very strong players.

Alexei Shirov LAT v Mariya Muzychuk UKR

Alexei again came to the Commentary Room as did Emanuel Berg. Thus we got three master classes that afternoon. He was very surprised by 24…Kf8. It was a nice positional crush.

Peter Svidler RUS v Anna Muzychuk SLO

She took the fight to the Russian, sacking a pawn early on. This was returned and it then came down to a drawn endgame.

David Howell ENG v Judit Polgar HUN

Black seemed better initially, but not after the mutual time scramble. The fortunes of the game ebbed and waned and it concluded after 82 moves with only kings on the  board.

Gabriel Sargissian ARM v Sabino Brunello ITA

100 rated points difference isn’t all that much, so Black’s win was not a shocking surprise. The Armenian went wrong with 38 bxa6 and after this was unable to recover.

BLITZ TEAMS OF FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

This traditional event attracted 20 teams of 4 players in 6 rounds. They played at the rate of 4 minutes per game plus 4 seconds cumulatively for each move. That works out at about 8 minutes for the whole game for each player, or an average of 8 seconds per move. This is considered quite leisurely for such an event.

The team USSR Mixed Team were red hot favourites. It consisted of Peter Svidler 2749 RUS, Viktor Bologan 2680 Moldova, Nadezhda Kosintseva woman 2537 RUS, Natalia Zhukova 2426 UKR.

USSR Mixed 20½ game points, 12 match points

Arabic Dragon 15½ game points, 8 match points

Linares Team 15 game points, 9 match points

In addition to the 3 hours of this event some people also played 4 hours in the morning and 5 hours in the evening.

Artículos relacionados:

• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez Lunes 23 de enero – Jueves 02 de febrero 2012
• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez
• 256 jugadores de ajedrez de más de 60 países han hecho sus movimientos de apertura esta tarde en la sección Masters del Festival de Ajedrez 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar.

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess 2012

Monday 23 January – Thursday 2 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE  – 25 January 2012

Tuesday 24 January 2012 report by Stewart Reuben

Monday evening there was the usual very pleasant ceremony to start the congress fully. The Minister for Sports, Leisure, Culture and Heritage Steven Linares was introduced by Stuart Conquest and then made a short speech. Miss Gibraltar, Michelle Pedersen, then did the Drawing of Lots for the first round in the Masters. This is a somewhat more elaborate affair than in most other countries. There then followed a buffet laid on by the Caleta Hotel with their customary hospitality. The highlight of the subsequent evening in the bar was Maria Jose Rescaglio Yarur, who plays in the Amateur, singing, accompanying herself on a stringed instrument.

Continuing on that theme, Tuesday evening there was a dinner at the official residence – the Convent – of His Excellency, the Governor of Gibraltar to mark the 10^th anniversary of the festival. It became clear why he is referred to as His Excellency, when he gave a most polished speech.

.

Tuesday morning I found myself in the not-unusual role as filler in the second round of the Challengers. This was the first time I had ever played in a rating restricted tournament. We believe people mostly come to the event to play chess, not to secure a win by default. You may have noticed one of our arbiters, Priscilla Morris, has already played two games in Amateur A.

Several people over the years have come to the congress despite being in very poor health. Daniel Yarur of Chile suffered an extremely bad skiing accident one year. He said one of the most important things that gave him the will to get better was that he couldn’t miss the Gibraltar Congress. One of the players this year had pneumonia. He said that he felt he had to come as he couldn’t let Brian Callaghan down. Eric Schiller is in very poor physical health. That he has come from California is a triumph of will.

This year there are 256 in the Masters. 59 people played in the first event in 2003 and 232 last year. There are 60 federations represented, including Gibraltar, which is regarded as part of England in FIDE. Thus more federations than there were players at the inaugural event.

Due to the Accelerated Pairings, many of the top players had to face opponents over 2400 in the first round. As Nigel Short said, ‘it is hardly surprising that we didn’t find it easy’. Tennis legend Pat Cash made an interesting comment concerning this very subject and the Australian Open. He said seeding 32 players out of 128 protects the stronger players too much and leads to uninteresting first rounds.

It is tempting to look only at the big upsets in the first round. I have been bribed by the Swedes to say that Alexei Shirov LAT 2710 was under siege in his game against Patrik Lyrberg 2435.  Emil Sutovsky ISR 2703 played rather wildly against air-traffic

controller Craig Hanley ENG 2421. Jovanka Houska ENG 2414 defended well against Peter Svidler RUS 2749. 17…Nc4 was a star move. But she eventually buckled under pressure.

Svidler,Peter (2749) – Houska,Jovanka (2414) [A00]

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2012, 24.01.2012

.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0–0 Ne7 7.Nbd2 Nc8 8.c3 Be7 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.Nd3 c5 11.Nf4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Ncb6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bd3 Rc8 15.Qe2 Nb8 16.f4 Nc6 17.Nf3 [diagram] 17… Nc4  18.b3 Na3 19.Bb2 Qb6 20.Rac1 a6 21.g4 Kd7 22.Kh1 Nb5 23.f5 gxf5 24.gxf5 Nb4 25.Bb1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rxc8 Kxc8 28.Qg2 exf5 29.Bxf5+ Kb8 30.Qxg7 Nxa2 31.Qxf7 Qd8 32.Qh7 Nac3 33.h4 Ne2 34.h5 Bg5 35.Bd3 Nbc3 36.Bxc3 Nxc3 37.Qg7 Be7 38.h6 Bf8 39.Qg8 Qc8 40.h7 Qh3+ 41.Nh2 1–0

Artículos relacionados:

• 2012 Festival de Ajedrez TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez Lunes 23 de enero – Jueves 02 de febrero 2012
• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez

Comienza el Campeonato de Menorca 2012 de Ajedrez por equipos

Desde este mismo sábado y hasta finales del mes de Marzo, se disputa una nueva edicion del campeonato de menorca por equipos. Son 12 los que compiten, 6 en categoria de preferente y 6 en primera, que se van a enfrentar todos contra todos a doble vuelta.

Los favoritos al titulo son el actual campeon, Cercle Artistic de Ciutadella, el otro club de ponent, el club escacs Boscos, y el Centre de Cultura es Castell A. Estos tres conjuntos ya se impusieron en la primera ronda al Club escacs Ferreries, al Mercadal-Alaior y al Centre de Cultura es Castell B respectivamente.

Resultados 1ª jornada Preferente

Resultados 1ª jornada Primera

4 Menorquines en el Open de Praga

Por otra parte, decir que desde el 13 al 20 de este mes de enero se disputo un año mas el prestigioso open de Praga, con la participacion de casi 300 jugadores divididos en dos categorias.

En el grupo A, se inscribieron los Maestros menorquines, Santi Pons, Joan Cubas y David Pons. Los tres estuvieron a un excelente nivel, David y Santi Pons consiguieron 5’5 y 6 puntos respectivamente quedando en la parte alta de la tabla , y Joan Cubas consiguio el 5º puesto absoluto, con un  extraordinario 6’5/9. Cubas se embolso 4000 Coronas checas (200€ al cambio).

En el grupo B, tambien jugo Santi Gomila, que con 4’5 puntos, quedo en el centro de la tabla.

Es-Castell-Campeonato-Menoca-Ajedrez-2012

Artículos relacionados:

• Tres líderes tras la segunda ronda del campeonato de Menorca por equipos de Ajedrez
• Mañana empieza el Campeonato de Menorca de Ajedrez por equipos 2012
• Cercle Artistic- Boscos enfrentamiento local en el Insular por Equipos de Ajedrez

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess 2012

2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
CHESS FESTIVAL

Monday 23 January – Thursday 2 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE  – 24 January 2012

RECORD NUMBER OF PLAYERS

2012 FIRST MOVE

256 chess players from more than 60 countries have made their opening moves this afternoon in the Masters section of the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. In both cases the tournament has set new records. There are 56 Grandmasters and 36 International Masters.

The top four women in the world are playing in the tournament: Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan, Humpy Koneru and Anna Muzychuk.

There are Grandmasters and players from as far afield as China, Vietnam and India. Most South American countries are represented and almost all European countries.

At precisely 3pm James Humpreys head of Tradewise Gibraltar and the main sponsor in this event, made the first move on the top board with top seeded player and previous winner in Gibraltar Peter Svidler (Russia) playing against Jovanka Houska (British Women’s Champion).

Live streaming with commentary is available every afternoon with commentator GM Simon Williams. Once again the tournament boasts the latest technology installed by Gibtelecom.

These commentaries are broadcast live on the congress website www.gibraltarchesscongress.com

Artículos relacionados:

• 2012 Festival de Ajedrez TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
• 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez
• TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR Festival de Ajedrez

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2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR
CHESS FESTIVAL

Monday 23 January – Thursday 2 February 2012

PRESS RELEASE  – 24 January 2012

GIB CHESS FESTIVAL IS ‘A MARQUEE EVENT’

SAYS REIGNING WORLD MENS CHAMPION

At the opening reception on Monday night Gibraltar Culture and Sports Minister Steven Linares weclomed all the players and thanked them for coming to the Rock to play in the tournament. Mr Linares wished all well in their game and hoped all would enjoy the festival.

Tournament director, Stuart Conquest, addressed the familiar faces in the gathering in the main hall by opening with well wishes for a successful tournament from the current World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. In a e-mail sent by Anand he described the tournament as  a “marquee event”. (see full quote below)

Conquest then said that numbers this year have reached a record high.

“There is,” he said, “something very special abut the ambience created over these 10 days of chess where everyone feels very much at home.”

It was then up to Miss Gibraltar 2011 Michelle Gillingwater Pedersen to draw the pairings for the opening top six games.

First up was Peter Svidler from Russia, a former winner in Gibraltar, and a huge cricket fan. So it was not surprising that he drew a white cricket ball received with much approval from the players. He plays Jovanka Houska in the opening round from UK.

The other top boards today are: Junio Molina v Mamedyarov, Michael Adams (former Gib winner) v Natalia Zhukova, Robert Aloma Vidal v Zoltan Almasi, Ismael Karin v Liem Le Quang, and Judit Polgar v Alex Astaneh Lopez.

Meanwhile Monday evening also saw the launch of the first Gibraltar stamps featuring chess. One of the pairings for yesterday between Adams and Zhukova, was an exact repetition in both names and colours as that featured on the 30p stamp.

FULL QUOTE FROM: Reigning World Champion Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand

“I would like to wish the organisers of the Tradewise Chess Festival a very successful 10th anniversary. The event has grown in stature and popularity over the years and has become a marquee event attracting the best names in chess including a lot of players from my country.

“On this special occasion I was happy to note that a special prize would be given as a Commonwealth prize to commemorate  Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  I would personally like to congratulate Brian Callaghan who has been awarded the prestoigious O.B.E. for his services to tourism and chess.  I would certainly like to visit the event in own of its future editions.  Once again all the best for many more good years of chess.

Regards  Viswanathan Ananad”

PLAY BEGINS

A reminder that play begins shortly at 3pm Gibraltar time and can be followed live on line – see website, details below.

PICTURES ARE ALL CAPTIONED.

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Tradewise Gibraltar Chess 2012

PLAYERS TAKE TIME OUT BEFORE THE FIRST MOVE

Chess players from all over the world continue to arrive at the Caleta Hotel for what will be the best and greatest chess open tournament ever held in Gibraltar and the world – the 2012 Tradewise International Chess Festival. There is no denying that the  tournament celebrating its tenth anniversary has attracted some of the world’s leading Grandmasters and the largest concentration of women players.

Today has been a day to settle in and see the sites. A sunny day which gave everyone the chance to discover the Rock of Gibraltar and everything it offers its visitor. For many, including the reigning Women’s World Champion, 17 year-old HouYifan, from China, it was trip to the Top of the Rock on the Cable Car and a visit to the famous Gibraltar apes.

The morning saw the start of the Amateur and Challengers tournaments all under the control of David Welch. It was tournament director, Stuart Conquest, who addressed the packed Alice and Dougal Suites, welcoming everyone to the 10 day festival.

PICTURES ARE ALL CAPTIONED.

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Largest concentration of women

22.01.12 – Stuart Conquest Director of the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, scheduled to begin this week, believes the tournament in its 10th edition will see the largest concentration of women chess players ever in a mixed event. He writes: ‘The greatest ever gathering of female chess players in a mixed event takes place on the Rock in a week’s time. Never before have so many of the world’s top women joined leading male players to compete in the same tournament’.

Tradewise Gibraltar Chess

Led by the brilliant Judit Polgar, the youngest of the three Hungarian sisters who between them broke every chess record in the books, this year’s female contingent includes champion players from China, India, Russia, the Ukraine, and the USA.

All eyes will be on the reigning Women’s World Champion, 17 year-old Hou Yifan, coming to Gibraltar for the first time. Indian sensation Humpy Koneru will be keen to score well – if things go her way she could take home the special £5,000 Commonwealth prize. Anna Muzychuk, from Slovakia, has been in scintillating form lately, and looks a good bet for a high placing.

Other female stars to follow include former World Champions Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Zhu Chen (Qatar), former European Champion Pia Cramling, and American rivals Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih.

From Georgia, a nation famous for its support of women’s chess, come four top players, including last year’s joint female winners: Nana Dzagnidze and Salome Melia. Let’s also not forget British Women’s champion Jovanka Houska, who in December recorded a career-best performance at the London Chess Classic.

As well as the elite women players, many lesser-ranked females are coming to the Rock too, eager to show the men a thing or two. We have women entrants from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Montenegro and France, as well as from further afield: Chile and Pakistan are both sending players. The men had better watch out: the chess world’s best females are coming this way, and they aren’t just coming for fun – they are here on business, and that can only mean one thing: to win.

Things are shaping up

22.01.12 – The entry lists have been updated for Masters, Challengers 1 & 2 and Amateurs 1.

The main playing room (Augustus) at 21:00, Sun 22nd.

From the balcony of the Caleta this morning 10.00

The 2012 tournament will be stronger than ever before and enjoyed by a huge internet audience, thanks to Gibtelecom’s innovative technology and the unique, built-for-purpose webcasting suite installed at the Caleta Hotel.

Gibraltar Chess 10th Anniversary Stamps

17.01.12 – Gibraltar postage stamps have always played a very important role in marking anniversaries, commemorating outstanding accomplishments and documenting local and international events.

The Gibraltar Chess Festival in its tenth edition has now firmly established itself as the most prestigious open tournament in the world therefore becoming one of Gibraltar’s most important sporting events of all time. Gibraltar is therefore delighted to pay tribute to the Festival with the issue of a set of Gibraltar stamps that have been officially approved by the Gibraltar Government and Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II.

RECORD NUMBERS FOR 2012 TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR CHESS FESTIVAL

10 days of Chess 24th January to 2nd February, 2012

It is now official! Every chess player in the world wants to play in Gibraltar this year to celebrate 10 years of chess. The popularity and over subscription of the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival Masters tournament has meant that organisers have had to close the Masters tournament to any further entries.

The record number of entries and its overall success is a reaffirmation that the tournament in its tenth edition will be the most important open tournament in the world. It boasts the participation of 57 Grand Masters, 11 of which are rated 2700 or over, attracting some of major names in both the men’s and the women’s game with a total of 240 players competing in the 2012 Gibraltar Masters. This is a record on both counts for Gibraltar.

The Amateur and Challenger tournaments played simultaneously remain as popular as ever and entries are still being taken for these.

	Tournament OrganiserBrian Callaghan OBE

Organiser Brian Callaghan, who received an OBE in the New Year’s honours list appointed by Her Majesty The Queen for his services to tourism and chess (see below), is delighted with the growth and success of the festival. “I am ready to welcome all the top chess players in the world to our tournament at the end of this month, and looking forward to the best 10 days of chess yet. It is indeed an honour to be hosting the 10th edition of the festival in Gibraltar, important too because it falls in the Diamond Jubilee year,” he said.

The 2012 tournament promises to be stronger than ever before and will be enjoyed by a huge internet audience, thanks to Gibtelecom’s innovative technology and the unique, built-for-purpose webcasting suite installed at the Caleta Hotel. Hosting the broadcasts this year is Macauley Peterson, a freelance mediamaker. He was voted 2008 “Chess Journalist of the Year” by the Chess Journalists of America, and has written in Chess Life, Chess Life Online (U.S.A.), New in Chess (Netherlands), “64″ (Russia), Chess (U.K.), and elsewhere.

CALLAGHAN RECEIVES AN OBE

Her Majesty The Queen appointed Brian Callaghan to be Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (“OBE”) for services to tourism and chess. Brian Callaghan is the driving force behind the Gibraltar Chess Festival, which will shortly celebrate its 10th anniversary and now attracts 300 players from over 40 countries, including some 50 grand masters. He is also a former Deputy Chairman of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust.

Make a note in your diary …

Play starts every morning at 10am. The Masters start every afternoon at 3pm.

Alice Mascarenhas, Chess Press Officer

Steve Connor, Webmaster

www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/

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