Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2011
Monday 24 January – Thursday 3 February 2011
PRESS RELEASE 1 FEBRUARY 2011
THE GOVERNOR OF GIBRALTAR VISITS TRADEWISE CHESSS FESTIVAL
The Governor of Gibraltar Sir Adrian Johns visited the Tradewise Chess Festival at the start of play in the eighth round of the Gibraltar Masters Open. Received by festival organiser Brian Callaghan, he was shown round by tournament director Stuart Conquest, and arbiter David Welch. Sir Adrian took a few minutes to see the Grandmasters at play stopping by Victor Korchnoi’s board before moving downstairs to see the rest of the players.
Knowing the basics of chess, and having played up to the age of 11, Sir Adrian watched with interest the analysis of one of the games with GM Simon Williams.
Moments later, interviewed by Stuart Conquest live on the internet broadcasting to the chess audience world-wide following the games on-line, the Governor commented how chess seemed to have no barriers on age or gender, and found it marvellous to see so many people from all different countires and ages playing in Gibraltar.
He said: “It is a great game which has an international following and flavour with it, which appeals very much to Gibraltar, and puts Gibraltar on the map in a very important way.”
He also said: “The tournament is going from strength to strength. It’s good to have Gibraltar in the name as well, it is just so good for the Rock, and I hope we’ll make the most of it next year when the tournament celebrates its tenth anniversary. I wish it all success for the future.”
Alice Mascarenhas, Chess Press Officer
chesspressoffice@caletahotel.gi or gibchesspress@gmail.com
John Saunders, Webmaster gibchesspress@gmail.com
TRADEWISE GIBRALTAR CHESS FESTIVAL Official website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com
What makes him a sir?
The art on the wall looks like something made by my 4th grader.
I hope they didn’t pay for it.
Sir Adrian was an admiral in the British Navy before becoming Governor of Gibraltar. He was head of home naval command, hence the ‘sir’. A very charming man, he took a keen interest in the technology we showed him in the tournament control room.