The ‘Juan Martinez Sola Chess Festival 2016’ was held from October 28th to October 30th in Almeria (Spain). It was the third chess memorial for the former president of the Reverté Minerals Chess Club.
Juan Martínez Sola in the center
The chess festival has had three activities: a Night Blitz Open, an Open Under 2200, and a simultaneous exhibition by IM Ana Matnadze. The English GM James H. Plaskett won with authority the blitz tournament, followed by the IM Ana Matnadze. This blitz tournament was also the Andalusian Championship, won by Antonio Arboledas, Javier Ortiz, and Francisco Galindo (from the Reverté Minerals Chess Club).
Standings:
| Pos Pts ID NAME | Rtg PRtg Fed | BucT |
| ———————————————————————— |
| 1 7.0 1 GM Plaskett, H James | 2502 2436 ENG | 42.5 |
| 2 6.5 2 IM Matnadze, Ana | 2412 2355 ESP | 40.5 |
| 3 6.0 13 Donado-Mazarron Gomez, Mi | 2113 2269 ESP | 40.0 |
| 4 6.0 5 Nedelea, Ariton-Vasile | 2169 2278 ROU | 38.5 |
| 5 6.0 8 Podvin, Francois-xavier | 2143 2173 FRA | 38.0 |
| 6 6.0 16 Garcia Gata, Jorge David | 2048 2118 ESP | 36.5 |
| 7 5.5 6 Arboledas Fernandez, Anto | 2158 2203 ESP | 37.5 |
| 8 5.5 9 Ortiz Aviles, Javier | 2141 2165 ESP | 35.5 |
| 9 5.0 10 FM Savolainen, Lev P. | 2124 2189 RUS | 42.5 |
| 10 5.0 4 Galindo Rodriguez, Franci | 2219 2136 ESP | 40.5 |
| 11 5.0 11 Soler Andrade, Diego | 2121 2069 CUB | 36.0 |
| 12 5.0 7 Puertas Martin, Savins | 2146 2083 ESP | 35.5 |
| 13 5.0 14 Redondo Benavente, Jose C | 2101 2073 ESP | 32.0 |
| 14 5.0 17 Lazaro Garcia, Roberto | 2032 1954 ESP | 32.0 |
| 15 5.0 18 WFM Redondo Benavente, Ana | 2018 1913 ESP | 29.0 |
| 16 4.5 21 Pastor Jimenez, Daniel | 1926 2014 ESP | 37.5 |
| 17 4.5 12 Alvarez Morales, Miguel | 2120 1954 ESP | 35.5 |
| 18 4.5 3 FM Guerra Rivera, Salvador | 2293 2091 ESP | 34.5 |
| 19 4.5 31 Amat Camacho, Alejandro | 1655 1801 ESP | 28.0 |
| 20 4.0 24 Fernandez Rodriguez, Ramo | 1825 1888 ESP | 37.0 |
IM Ana Matnadze vs. GM H James Plaskett
In the Open Under 2200 tournament, Miguel Donado-Mazarron Gomez, François-Xavier Podvin, and FM Lev Savolainen were the first three players. Salvador Perez Beltran, 12 years old, made a brilliant tournament winning the local prize.
Standings:
| Pos Pts ID NAME | Rtg PRtg Fed | BucT |
| ——————————————————————– |
| 1 6.5 3 Donado-Mazarron Gomez, Mi | 2129 2392 ESP | 36.0 |
| 2 6.0 4 Podvin, Francois-xavier | 2128 2265 FRA | 34.0 |
| 3 6.0 12 FM Savolainen, Lev P. | 2054 2143 RUS | 30.0 |
| 4 5.5 21 Sabater Sanchez, Asensio | 1940 2233 ESP | 33.5 |
| 5 5.5 15 Garcia Gata, Jorge D. | 1996 2161 ESP | 30.0 |
WGM Ana Matnadze gave a simul against 31 boards. In the words of Miguel Alvarez Morales from the organizing team: “It has been amazing to see the children enjoying the simul and Ana bringing expertise to chess starters, as Juan Martínez Sola used to do. It has been a terrific chess festival!”
Simul by WGM Ana Matnadze
The organization was a success. The festival has grown from 124 participants last year to 150 chess players from 9 countries: Spain, France, United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Cuba, and Peru.