The tradition of Hastings

Tribute to the many
By Malcolm Pein
Last Updated: 12:01am GMT 28/12/2007
www.telegraph.co.uk

This year’s Hastings International Chess Congress is the 83rd edition of what is the world’s longest running chess event. The congress starts today and runs until 6 January 2008 at the now traditional venue of the Horntye Park Sports Centre.

Tournaments will include Hastings Masters, Christmas Morning, Christmas Afternoon and New Year Tournaments and 25th Hastings Weekend Congress.

The Congress will be a celebration of the lives of many who have contributed to the chess world in different ways including sponsors, patrons of the game and arbiters. These include:

Tony Banks, Tony Bastable, John Bisson, Steve Boniface, Michael Bent, David Bronstein, David Brown, Keith Brown, Lord Callaghan, Lady Callaghan, Philip Church, Ian Cowen, Vernon Dilworth, Richard Furness, Isaac Iglesias, George Goodwin, Pete Harrison, Frank Hatto, Ted Johnson, Joyce Macdonald-Ross, Fred Manning, Ian Mason, Eric McCanlis, Kenneth Messere, Lady Milner-Barry, Robert Pinner, John Robinson, Arne Rosemberg, David Pritchard, Walter Sebley, Peter Shaw, Jack Speigel, Simon Webb, Paul Watson and Roy Woodcock.

The line up for the Masters tournament is impressive but the English contingent, led by Gawain Jones looks stronger than in recent years. Hopefully Simon Williams can turn in another fine performance at the event and secure enough rating points to reach 2500 and achieve the GM title.

GM Malakhatko Russia 2603
GM Chatalbashev Bulgaria 2581
GM V Georgiev Macedonia 2576
GM Mamedov Azerbaijan 2575
GM Jones England 2567
GM Neverov Ukraine 2558
GM Hebden England 2542
GM Conquest 2540
GM Tahirov Azerbaijan 2540
GM Pert England 2539
GM Pavlovic Serbia 2536
GM Howell England 2527
GM Bindrich Germany 2512
GM Haslinger England 2502
GM Lalic Croatia 2500
GM Flear England 2493
GM Gormally England 2484
IM Williams England 2475

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