The 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival is set to take place from 23rd January to 2nd February 2012 at the Caleta Hotel in Gibraltar. The main event of the Festival will be the 10-round Masters tournament from 24th January. Already 25 strong Grandmasters are signed to participate (list bellow).
In addition, there will be the 1st Amateurs and Challengers events from 23rd to 27th January, the 2nd Amateurs and Challengers from 28th January to 1st February, two evening blitz events and Master classes with elite players.
Prize money has been increased to an amazing £155,000. There is to be a further prize of £5,000 to celebrate the HM Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee – it will be awarded to the top scoring player from a Commonwealth country.
Top three prizes in Masters: £20,000 – £12,000 – £10,000;
Top three female awards: £10,000 – £7,000 – £5,000;
Top three prizes in Challengers: £2,000 – £1,250 – £750;
Top three prizes in Amateurs: £1,000 – £800 – £600.
Full prize list
Leading confirmed entries for the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Masters as of 1st October (September ratings listed):
Svidler Peter RUS 2740
Adams Michael ENG 2733
Vachier-Lagrave Maxime FRA 2715
Shirov Alexei ESP 2713
Almasi Zoltan HUN 2710
Polgar Judith HUN 2701
Short Nigel ENG 2698
Sutovsky Emil ISR 2690
Bruzon Batista Lazaro CUB 2682
Onischuk Alexander USA 2669
Bologan Victor MDA 2656
Fridman Daniel GER 2652
Gupta Abhijeet IND 2620
Edouard Romain FRA 2608
Robson Ray USA 2583
Yifan Hou CHN 2578
Kosintseva Nadezhda RUS 2560
Korchnoi Victor SUI 2556
Adhiban Baskaran IND 2551
Muzychuk Anna SLO 2545
Kosintseva Tatiana RUS 2536
Stefanova Antoaneta BUL 2528
Dzagnidze Nana GEO 2525
Zatonshih Anna USA 2508
Zhu Chen QAT 2490
Cramling Pia SWE 2489
Krush Irina USA 2472
Muzychuk Mariya UKR 2456
The 2011 Gibraltar Masters was won by GM Vassily Ivanchuk.
More information on the official website
What a tournament.