Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2014
Gibraltar, 2014

PRESS RELEASE 5 Tuesday 28 January, 2014

LIVE STREAMING OF THE 2014 GIBRALTAR MASTERS

GM Simon Williams and GM Irina Krush

Live streaming with commentary is available every afternoon with commentator s GM Simon Williams and GM Irina Krush as from 3pm (Gibraltar time). Once again the tournament boasts the latest technology installed by Gibtelecom a great supporter of the festival in its 12 year history.

GM Irina Krush is the reigning US women's champion. GM Simon Williams was the joint winner of the London Chess Classic Open 2010.

Irina and Simon are no strangers to Gibraltar, Irina having taken part in the Masters on many occasions.

 In their opening remarks Irina and Simon welcomed all those who had especially tuned in for Round One of The Masters.

Irina Krush: “Gibraltar has long-established itself as one of the best open tournaments in the world but I think this year it is much stronger. There are  10 players over 2700 and 27 players over 2600 as well as some of the best women players in the world.”

Simon Williams: “There are so many people who can win this tournament this year. 25 top players have a chance to win in this competition. It is really completely wide open.”

For all information, as well as live commentaries, Masterclasses, and interviews, the dedicated festival website, powered by Gibtelecom, is www.gibraltarchesscongress.com - well worth checking out on a daily basis.

The festival venue is the Caleta Hotel. The festival closes on Thursday, February 6th, with a banquet and prizegiving ceremony.

For photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com please credit Sophie Triay.

Alice Mascarenhas, Tradewise Press Chess Officer

PRESS RELEASE 4 Tuesday 28 January, 2014

THE FIRST MOVE AT TRADEWISE 2014

Tradewise Chairman James Humphreys makes the first move against England No.1 Mickey Adams.
Standing is Mickey's opponent Spanish player FM Emilio Miguel Sánchez Jérez.

The first move of the 2014 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival at The Gibraltar Masters tournament took place this afternoon at the Caleta Hotel. At precisely 3pm (Gibraltar time) James Humpreys, Chairman of Tradewise Gibraltar Insurance Ltd, the main sponsor of this event made the ceremonial first move on board one against top seed Grandmaster Mickey Adams, England's No.1 and ranked 13th in the world.

In his First Round game Mickey Adams is playing against one of the many Spanish players in this festival FM Emilio Miguel Sanchez Jerez from Murcia. James Humpreys, whose company has been sponsoring the game for nine years, four of them as the main sponsor, welcomed the players and wished them well. “Have a great time!” he told them all.

As play began he spoke of the importance of the development of chess on the Rock and of the Festival itself. “Tradewise is becoming synonymous with chess as much as it is to insurance and this is important for Gibraltar. In chess we have Tata Steel, and I hoping that over the years Tradewise will be exactly the same as that company in its association with the festival,” he said. Moments later the 252 chess players in The Masters from some 60 countries made their opening moves in the tournament which is being held over the next 10 days over 10 rounds.

 The top woman player this year is Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia).

For photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com please credit Sophie Triay.

Alice Mascarenhas, Tradewise Press Chess Officer

PRESS RELEASE 3 Tuesday 28 January, 2014

OPENING CEREMONY: 'GIBRALTAR'S BIGGEST TOURNAMENT' SAYS THE ROCK'S SPORTS MINISTER

Minister for Sports Culture, Heritage and Youth, The Hon. Steven Linares
draws the black pieces, in round 1, for top seed GM Mickey Adams

The pairings for the start of the 2014 Masters tournament which kicks off today at 3pm were drawn last night by Gibraltar’s Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Steven Linares at the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 Gibraltar Tradewise Chess Festival. Minister Steven Linares welcomed all the players to Gibraltar “those who have annually been coming to this tournament and to those who are here for the first time.”

Mr Linares once again pledged the Gibraltar Government’s commitment to the tournament which has grown annually over the past 12 years. “It is a great pleasure to be part of the biggest tournament and event annually in Gibraltar,” he said. “As it continues to grow the Government will continue to support it as it does others. But this tournament takes the biscuit. It is the biggest tournament the Government has ever been involved with,” he added.

In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere Minister Linares told England’s No.1 and ranked 13th in the world GM Mickey Adams, “it’s black!”

Adams plays on the top board today against FM Emilio Miguel Sanchez Jerez from Spain. GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave from France is paired with Peter Lombaers from the Netherlands. GM Vassily Ivanchuk from Ukraine is paired with IM Leon Lederman. GM Nikita Vitiugov from Russia is paired with IM Petter Haugli from Norway.

Hosting the night Director of the tournament, Stuart Conquest, spoke of the tournament’s many accomplishments over the years. “This is a story of continued success,” he said which this year welcomes close to 70 Grandmasters from 60 nations.

Take note that the Gibraltar Masters starts at 3pm (Gibraltar time) and remember we will be going live from our studio with Simon Williams and Irina Krush (Reigning women's USA Champion). There are 252 chess players in the Gibraltar Masters this year with around 370 playing in all three tournaments. 60 countries are being represented this year.

Take note that the Gibraltar Masters starts at 3pm (Gibraltar time) and remember we will be going live from our studio with Simon Williams and Irina Krush (Reigning women's USA Champion). There are 252 chess players in the Gibraltar Masters this year with around 370 playing in all three tournaments. 60 countries are being represented this year.

For photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com please credit Sophie Triay.

Alice Mascarenhas, Tradewise Press Chess Officer

PRESS RELEASE 2 Monday 27 January, 2014

OPENING MOVE – THE AMATEUR AND CHALLENGERS TOURNAMENT

The 12th edition of the Gibraltar Tradewise International Chess Festival got off to a great start today at the Caleta Hotel.

Chess Grandmasters have travelled from all over the world to participate in this year’s festival which is sure to be the best yet. This year there are players from countries including China and Mongolia.

The good news is that the competition not only keeps on getting stronger each year but the numbers also keep on increasing.

2014 has seen a record number of entries in the Amateur and Challenger tournaments played each morning throughout the festival. This year in both the first and second week of the festival entries stand at around 130 players. Many from Spain, Portugal, Norway and of course Gibraltar.

Irene Nicolás Zapata

The first move in the Amateur and Challenger tournaments which began today was carried out by two of the youngest members of staff at Gibteleco. Rachel Holgado a regulatory officer and Craig Lima, an apprentice. The young chess player is Irene Nicolas Zapata from Spain who recently won the silver medal in the under 16 category at the World Youth Championships.

The Masters tournament running simultaneously over the 10-day festival starts tomorrow Tuesday at 3pm.

Photo attached: by Sophie Triay

For more photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com

Alice Mascarenhas, Tradewise Press Chess Officer

PRESS RELEASE 1 Monday 27 January, 2014

TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR CHESS TOURNAMENT IS BACK!

Tania Schadev and Siemen Adgestein

We are back! Unbelievably 2014 is already the 12th edition of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival sponsored by Tradewise.

The Tradewise Chess Festival 2014 is the biggest tournament yet with some 70 Grandmasters from all over the world. The number of entries in the Amateur and Challenger events has also risen with a record high of around 130. Perhaps the most impressive figure is the number of different federations represented this year numbering 60.

The oldest competitor is George Ellison from England who is attending the festival for the first time. He is 81. Our youngest,  Viviana Galván Cipriani, from Spain, is only 9.

There are players from Mongolia who have made the journey: our first ever participants from this nation. Six Chinese are taking part, including 14-year old Wei Yi, already ranked number ten in his country, as well as last year's top female, Zhao Xue.

The 2013 champion, Nikita Vitiugov, whose exceptionally cool nerves under pressure led Grandmaster commentator Simon Williams to dub him the 'Iceman', also returns to the Rock, as does Nigel Short, who so nearly won again last year.

Michael Adams, UK number one and world number 13, will have his own ideas about the destination of the £20,000 top prize, as will Vassily Ivanchuk, from the Ukraine, who holds the Gibraltar record score of 9/10, set in 2011.

Former Russian women's champion Natalia Pogonina, who has over 100,000 Twitter followers, makes her second visit. She tweeted favourably about Gibraltar recently.

As always the week will be jam packed with surprises always in a friendly, family atmosphere which has made the tournament unique in the world.

For all information, as well as live commentaries, Masterclasses, and interviews, the dedicated festival website, powered by Gibtelecom, is www.gibraltarchesscongress.com - well worth checking out on a daily basis.

The festival venue is the Caleta Hotel. The festival closes on Thursday, February 6th, with a banquet and prizegiving ceremony.

For photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com please credit Sophie Triay.

Alice Mascarenhas, Tradewise Press Chess Officer