PRESS RELEASE 1 27 January 2015
What a buzz as Tradewise 2015 gets underway!
CAPTION: “You are playing white in Round 1,” Miss Gibraltar 2014 Shyanne Azzopardi told World No.4 Veselin Topalov as she drew the pairs in the opening ceremony.
The Caleta Hotel was buzzing last night as some 300 chess players gathered for the opening ceremony of the 2015 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. There was excitement in the air as the first of the pairings was drawn determining who would play the top seed in this year’s tournament, and the top rated player in the history of the festival, World No. 4 Veselin Topalov.
This was day one of the festival and all day chess players had been arriving in a sunny Gibraltar more reminiscent of a day in the middle of summer than a winter’s day.
CAPTION: The stop seeds in this year’s Tradewise Chess Festival Nakamura, Topalov, Hou Yifan, Miss Gibraltar 2014 Shyanne Azzopardi, tournament organiser Brian Callaghan and Gibraltar’s Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Steven Linares.
In a busy opening, bursting with anticipation, it was Miss Gibraltar in the presence of Sport, Culture and Heritage Minister Steven Linares at the Opening Ceremony of the 2015 festival who drew the pairings for the top boards in the first round.
“Yes, you are playing white,” a smiling Miss Gibraltar Shyanne Azzopardi, told him as he held his white piece in his hand and she drew the name of his first opponent in this festival.
Minister Steven Linares was thrilled to be back to welcome all the players to Gibraltar “those who have annually been coming to this tournament and to those who are here for the first time.”
“Again chess comes to Gibraltar. No.13. I am proud to say that this is one of the best organised tournaments in the world,” he said.
“I am privileged to see so many high ranking chess players playing on the Rock which goes to show the importance of the ‘strong open’ event that has been created in Gibraltar.”
Take note that the Gibraltar Masters starts at 3pm (Gibraltar time) and remember we will be going live from our studio with Grandmaster Simon Williams and International Master Elisabeth Pähtz. There are more than 250 chess players in the Gibraltar Masters this year with over 370 playing in all three tournaments. Once again some 60 countries are being represented.
Pairings/Results
Round 1 on 2015/01/27 at 15:00
Bo. / No. / Name / Rtg / Pts. / Result / Pts. / Name / Rtg / No.1 / 1 / GM / Topalov Veselin / 2800 / 0 / 0 / FM / Sanchez Jerez Emilio Miguel / 2282 / 132
2 / 126 / WGM / Vojinovic Jovana / 2301 / 0 / 0 / GM / Nakamura Hikaru / 2776 / 2
3 / 3 / GM / Svidler Peter / 2739 / 0 / 0 / WIM / Frisk Ellinor / 2266 / 135
4 / 131 / WIM / Olsarova Tereza / 2288 / 0 / 0 / GM / Vitiugov Nikita / 2735 / 4
5 / 5 / GM / Jakovenko Dmitry / 2733 / 0 / 0 / Rydstrom Tom / 2292 / 129
6 / 125 / FM / Nuri Kambez / 2305 / 0 / 0 / GM / Yu Yangyi / 2724 / 6
7 / 7 / GM / Harikrishna P. / 2723 / 0 / 0 / FM / De Haan Eric / 2299 / 127
8 / 128 / FM / Tate Alan / 2297 / 0 / 0 / GM / Rapport Richard / 2716 / 8
9 / 9 / GM / Matlakov Maxim / 2695 / 0 / 0 / Lombaers Peter / 2291 / 130
10 / 133 / FM / Buchal Stephan / 2273 / 0 / 0 / GM / Cheparinov Ivan / 2681 / 10
Alice Mascarenhas, John Saunders and Leontxo Garcia, Tradewise Press Chess Officers
| www.gibraltarchesscongress.com
Steve Connor, Webmaster.
All 2015 Tradewise Festival reports are also on our Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter @GibraltarChess #GibChess or @Stuthefox with TD Stuart Conquest.