SIMULTANEOUS CHESS
GIBRALTAR 13 October 2009
On Saturday Grand Master and 2008 British Champion Stuart Conquest (right, standing) put out a challenge to all local and even some cross border chess players to take him on in a simultaneous match. This was held in Casemates Square in excellent weather.
Stuart Rodriguez, MD of Gibro Group opened the event and presented certificates on behalf of the sponsors to all the participants. In his opening speech Peter Purland, Director of Junior Chess for England, said he was certain that there was no town or city in England where a higher proportion of schools had active chess clubs. There were 37 players including 10 adults, two Spanish juniors and 25 Gibraltarian juniors representing 8 different schools.
It was an event that attracted a great deal of interest amongst the shoppers and tourists and the number of people who chatted with the organisers confirmed this. Almost all games lasted at least an hour with 10 players surviving for three hours. This showed great concentration as 6 of these were juniors. The only person not to lose was Antonio Guerrero, chairman of Cadiz Region Chess Association who got a draw whilst Stephen Whatley was the last player to “survive”.
Cups for meritorious performances were awarded to Jose Mari Ruiz, Yash and Nilesh Chhatwani and Stephen Whatley. Thanks are due to the Sponsors for their support of chess in the City, the Caleta Hotel for use of equipment and setting up the event and above all to Stuart Conquest for walking around for over three hours in hot conditions and not losing a match!
Source: Gibraltar Chronicle
Who is Conquest?