Gibraltar first Junior International Festival

The first ever Gibraltar Junior International Chess Festival opens today. Sixty youngsters from Gibraltar, UK and Spain will compete in this four day festival at the Caleta Hotel run under the auspices of the English Chess Federation in association with the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival which celebrates its tenth anniversary in January next year. The three local players are led by Gibraltar and British Champion Stephen Whatley.

The largest contingent is from England, with large numbers from all over Spain including Algeciras, Malaga, Seville, Barcelona and Madrid. The prize fund at this festival totals £6,000. The first move will be made this morning by Sports Minister Edwin Reyes. Also present will be James Humphreys from Tradewise Gibraltar. There are two categories: a) open to competitors aged under 16 on 1 January 2011 (i.e. born in 1995 or later); b) open to competitors aged under 12 on 1 January 2011 (i.e. born in 1999 or later). The organisers of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, widely recognised as the best Open tournament in the world, decided to establish a Gibraltar Junior International Chess Festival which is hoped will also become an annual event.

The festival will follow the successful pattern of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, offering some good and very competitive chess-playing opportunities with an equally strong social, fun and educational programme.

Throughout the tournament there will be a number of visiting celebrities.

The Women’s British Champion Jovanka Houska will be participating in a simultaneous match during the festival weekend. Pia Cramling, the 2010 European Women’s Champion, ranked 5th in the Women’s World Rating List, will be holding a Master Class. Former British Champion, and director of the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Stuart Conquest, will also hold a Master Class. All the youngsters participating in the festival will get a free Rock tour and a chance to see the dolphins.

The festival ends on Monday night with a special Gala event which will be attended by Sports Minister Edwin Reyes and Gibraltar’s Mayor Julio Alcantara.