Gibraltar and Monkeys

Hello everybody!

I decided to make a post since it's been a while I haven't updated my blog myself. That's why I have special photos of the Gibraltar monkeys playing chess!

As for the tournament itself, for the moment 7 rounds of Gibraltar have been played and the final three rounds promise to be very exciting since the big winners for the men's and women's top prizes will be decided in these rounds.

After 7 rounds, Natalia Zhukova who drew today playing Black against Michael Adams and Humpy Koneru who beat today Guliyev are in the lead with 5.5 points out of 7. I cannot say anything good about my tournament as of yet, there are 3 more rounds to go and I hope that I will finish the tournament on a good note.

But now I would like to tell you about the beautiful sightseeing tour I went on today. The organizers were kind to invite me and some other players for a tour, Anna Zatonskih, Gata Kamsky, Irina Krush and Zeljka Malobabic. We went to see the most southern point of Gibraltar, from where one can see Morocco (which is in Africa). We also went down to the fascinating St. Michael's Cave and went all the way up the Rock to meet the monkeys and to play some chess with them of course!:)

Some photos below are mine and some are Zeljka Malobabic of Monroi who was kind enough to give them to me.

Nice encounter

Analysing a game

Below you can see the Caleta hotel where most participants are staying and where the tournament takes place.

Another magnificent view of Gibraltar

Anna Zatonskih posing with Aloe

I will let you know how the tournament finished, but make sure to go to the official organizers web-site, here where you can find many more nice photos, pairings as well as the live game and live broadcast daily.

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

Gibraltar Board 1: Adams - Zhukova draw!

Congratulations to Natalia Zhukova, who was able to keep GM Michael Adams (2694) under control, with a nice draw on board 1 of the Gibraltar Chess Masters. You can see the game below:

Zhukova is our Gibraltar hero of the day

Natalia Zhukova

Women are doing great in Gibraltar!

Today's 5th round top result in the Gibraltar Chess Masters by women was by Natalia Zhukova who beat GM Lopez Martinez (2593), congratulations! Also great results by women against male Grandmasters: Harika drew GM Vallejo Pons, Zatonskih drew GM Istratescu (2466), Krush drew GM GM Halkias (2566), and Zozulia drew GM Naumann (2525).

Humpy Koneru lost to GM Michael Adams (2694), Sedina lost to GM Speelman (2525), Dzagnidze won against Dasaolu, Stefanova beat Videnova, Kosteniuk won against Stebbins, Javakhishvili beat Rioseco Pinochet.

After 5 rounds, the best women are as follows:

4.0: Nana Dzagnidze

Natalia Zhukova

3.5: Humpy Koneru

Antoaneta Stefanova

Pia Cramling

Alexandra Kosteniuk

Lela Javakhishvili

Dronavalli Harika

Anna Zatonskih

Irina Krush

Eesha Karavade

Jovanka Houska

Anna Zozulia

3.0: Viktorija Cmilyte

Deysi Cori

Tania Sadchev

Monica Calzetta

Dana Riezniece

Elena Sedina

Katrine Tjolsen

2.5: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant

Iva Videnova

Marina Martsynovskaya

2.0: Joanna Dworakowska

Kruttika Nadig

Szilvia Lochte

There are 10 rounds in total so anything can happen, let's wish all ladies success, especially against male Grandmaster-competitors!

Posted by Admin

www.chessblog.com

Women are doing well in Gibraltar

From the organizer's photo album

Dear fans of women's chess!

I am pleased to report that after 3 rounds in the very strong Gibraltar Masters, there are 7 women with 2.5 points out of 3:

Humpy Koneru

Antoaneta Stefanova

Pia Cramling

Lela Javakhishvili

Viktorija Cmilyte

Natalia Zhukova

and myself

Only 3 (men) participants have 3/3:

Michael Adams

Laurent Fressinet

Jan Gustafsson

The full results can be seen on the organizer's web site.

Today I drew GM Gata Kamsky (2707 live rating) from the USA, the game was very interesting, you can see it below.

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

Chess in Gibraltar 2010

Hello everybody!

This afternoon I arrived to Gibraltar, by first flying to Malaga, in Spain, and then driving down the road till the very tip down across from Africa. It's fascinating and quite exciting to be here! On the photo you can see the famous "Rock" of Gibraltar.

The opening ceremony took place just a few minutes ago and the top 3 players for men and women have been paired. The full pairings for the first round will be known tonight. You can follow the tournament and game lives on the official web-site, here.

I already met many strong chess players and good friends such as Natalia Zhukova, Viktorija Cmilyte, Antoaneta Stefanova, Elena Sedina, Humpy Koneru, Anna Zatonskih, Pia Cramling and many others.

During the tournament I might make fewer posts on my blog, but you can be sure that I will let you know how the tournament went as soon as it's over. Thanks to everyone for their kind emails and Twitter tweets and Facebook comments, I sincerely appreciate them!

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

Monica Socko 2010 Women Polish Champion

Hello all!

The year 2010 just began but many interesting women's chess events are in full swing right now.

From January 9 to 17, 2010 the Polish Women's Chess Championship took place. It was played with the knock-out system and in the final round Monica Socko (on the photo below)

won 2-0 against the reigning Polish champion Iweta Rajlich and got the title 2010, congratulations!

The Women's Georgian Chess Championship is taking place right now. 14 of the strongest players of Georgia are participating in this round-robin event. After 8 rounds Melia Salome is in the lead with 6.5/8.

The Belarus Women's Chess Championship is under its way as well. After 4 rounds Olga Gerasimovich and Elena Khomiakova are leadin the event with 3,5 points.

The super strong Corus Chess Tournament started on the 16th of January in Wijk-aan-Zee. In the A-group with an average rating of 2719, top world grandmasters such as Anand, Carlsen, Kramnik among others take part. After 2 rounds Alexei Shirov is in the sole lead with 2 out of 2. In the "B" group, in the tournament with an average rating of 2629, after 2 rounds Anish Giri is in the lead with 2 out of 2. There is also one female representative in this group - Anna Muzychuk (on the photo below).

She is doing pretty well for the moment, with 2 draws out of 2. Her younger sister Maria Muzychuk, as well as the world girls champion under 20 Soumya Swaminathan are taking part in a very interesting "C" group. The average rating of the "C"-group is 2455, and for the moment Ray Robson is in the lead in this group with 2 out of 2. The tournament has a very nice video coverage by WGM Bianca Muhren, you can watch it on the official web-site, here.

The chess year is about to begin for me as well. This Tuesday I will be leaving Miami and will head to Europe where I will have quite a busy schedule. On January 21, 2010 my best friend Almira Skripchenko and I will be giving a tandem simul in Monaco, then on January 23 we will have another simultaneous exhibition in Brussels, after that on January 25 I will fly to Gibraltar where will take part in a super-strong open-tournament, with very attractive prizes for women. I promise to keep you updated on my traveling and games so make sure to come and visit my blog often :-)

Posted by: Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

Women Chess Stars love Gibraltar!

Today I received a letter from the organizer of the Gibtelecom International Open, which takes place each year in Gibraltar in January - February,

From what I have been told by my colleagues women chess players, the tournament is very well organized, and the prizes for top women are excellent.

Judge it for yourself, this is an open tournament, where lots of seasoned male chess grandmasters play (top players GM's Svidler, Milov, Gashimov, Nakamura, etc.). Now the women who come to play also are equally as impressive (Dzagnidze, Stefanova, Cramling, who last year all got 7 points out of 10, only 1 point away from the two male winners).

Note that the first prize for men in this open in 2010 is 15,000 UKP, while for women the first prize is 8,000 UKP, more than $12,000 at today's exchange rate! And also a woman can win not only a woman's prize, but also one for open competition or rating prizes. In the past this has happened.
Thus a woman could win £23,000 next year, plus the Best Game Prize of £1000. I was told that most of the women chess professionals who play there want to go back the next year.

Feel free to write to Brian. I think he'd be very happy if more women join his tournament. Let's show the men what women can do!

Below you can find his letter to me.

Dear Alexandra,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brian Callaghan and I am the organiser of the Gibtelecom International Open Chess Tournament in Gibraltar and I have read you open letter with great interest and support.

We are entering our 9^th Tournament which will be held in Gibraltar from Tuesday the 26^th of January, 2010 to Thursday the 4^th of February, 2010 and are now arguably the best Open Tournament in the world according to journalists, vying with Moscow for that honour.

Our objective is to make Gibraltar a place where Chess players want to play. We have increased the prize money year on year and this year will be offering total prize money of £112,000 (up 12% on last year) which is a marvellous result given present financial difficulties.

Perhaps most importantly the Gibraltar Open is a SOCIAL EVENT where some very good, and at times not so good, Chess is played, usually in the sunshine! An important part of our Tournament is the emphasis and encouragement we give for Women Chess players to attend and indeed we are at the forefront of that objective.

This coming year we will be increasing the Women’s prize money by 22% to £22,500.- with the first prize for Women of UKP8,000 and a further seven main prizes.

The top Men’s prize is UKP15,000 with a further 12 main prizes and many, many extremely good rating prizes.

Happily Gibraltar is well supported by Women players but we seek and NEED greater support and that has to become a reality and your support would be most helpful.

I wish you every success in your role in the Commission for Women’s Chess.

With very best wishes,

Brian Callaghan

Organiser Gibtelecom International Open Chess Tournament

Gibraltar

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Champion

www.chessblog.com