PRESS RELEASE 3 Tuesday 28 January, 2014
OPENING CEREMONY: ‘GIBRALTAR’S BIGGEST TOURNAMENT’ SAYS THE ROCK’S SPORTS MINISTER GETS UNDERWAY
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.
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.
PRESS OFFICE – 2014 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival
Alice Mascarenhas, John Saunders and Leontxo Garcia, Tradewise Press Chess Officers
gibchesspress@gmail.com and www.gibraltarchesscongress.com
For photos check our website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com please credit Sophie Triay.
Nice tournament.