Tradewise Chess Festival 2013 Begins in Gibraltar

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

The 2013 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival was opened on 21 January by Steven Linares, Minister for Sport, Culture, Heritage & Youth, and the draw for first round colours made by Jessica Baldochino, Miss Gibraltar 2012. Tournament director GM Stuart Conquest presided over the ceremony.



The photo shows Stuart Conquest, James Humphreys, of the principal sponsor Tradewise, Brian Callaghan, of the Caleta Hotel, Jessica Baldochino and the Hon. Steven Linares. Many more photos here.

The First Move of the 2013 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival Gibraltar Masters tournament took place this afternoon at the Caleta Hotel. At precisely 3pm (Gibraltar time) James Humpreys head of Tradewise Gibraltar Insurance Ltd, main sponsor of this event, made the first move on the top board with top seeded player at this year’s tournament and previous winner in Gibraltar GM Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) playing against Hristos Zygouris (Greece).

Moments later the 245 chess players from some 60 countries then made their opening moves in he tournament which is being held over the next 10 days. The top woman player this year is Anna

Muzychuk (Slovenia). There are 48 Grandmasters and 36 International Masters. 29 FIDE Masters and 4 women Grandmasters.

Live streaming with commentary is available every afternoon with commentator GM Simon Williams and GM Irina Krush via the official website of the chess festival. Once again the tournament boasts the latest technology installed by Gibtelecom a great supporter of the festival in its 11 year history.

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Gibraltar Chess Festival; Sensational performance - Hou Yifan beats Alexei Shirov to take sole lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,

Women's world chess champion Hou Yifan has downed another grandmaster at the ongoing Gibraltar Chess Festival and gone into sole lead with just one round to go. What a splendid performance by the teenager!



The official press release states: No-one here in Gibraltar at the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival can quite believe it. A quiet, polite, 17-year old girl, here with her mother, is a game away from winning the strongest Open chess tournament in history. In her wake, some of the best chess players in the world.


Hou Yifan, from China, has beaten one elite player after another
in the last few days - including Judit Polgar, the highest ranked
female player of all time. At the start of the event Hou Yifan -
the reigning women's world champion - was ranked number 25. But 9 days later, she has beaten four players rated over 2700, and her
tournament performance currently stands at a colossal 2892.


Tomorrow (Thursday 2nd Feb) she faces Shakriyhar Mamedyarov, the cheerful Azeri grandmaster, rated 2747 - number 14 in the world. Hou Yifan has 7,5/9. Her opponent tomorrow has 7 points, as have 4 other players, including top British grandmasters Michael Adams and Nigel Short. The final round begins at 11am (Gibraltar time). All eyes will be on Gibraltar to see if Hou Yifan can claim the first prize of £20,000 - as well as the top female award of £10,000.


You can follow Thursday's games live for the final round at the official website here.


From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com

Historic chess clash today - Hou Yifan and Judit Polgar play each other today in Gibraltar Chess 2012!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hello everyone,

There will be a historic clash at the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Masters in Round 7 on 30 January 2012 at the Caleta Hotel starting 3pm today (Gibraltar time).

Women's World Champion Yifan Hou (China) rated 2605 will play white against Judit Polgar (Hungary) 2710, the highest-ever rated woman player in the history of the game.

The match has begun and you can watch live at the official website or at www.chessdom.com.

They have never previously met as Judit doesn't play in women only events and it is some years since she played in an open tournament. Both players have 4.5/6.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Thursday Chess King Show - How to draw with GM Peter Svidler!

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012


Hello everyone,


It's time for the Chess King show. Are you following the Gibraltar Chess Festival? The game is from the second round where Artur Jussupow held Peter Svidler to a draw in the second round. Enjoy.

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