New chess initiative at the University of Gibraltar

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 Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 11:09

A new initiative from the organisers of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival will soon see chess professionals head a series of seminars at the University of Gibraltar.

As from January 2020 chess players from around the world will be able to visit the Rock and further their study of chess ahead of and as part of the lead up to the long established 10 day festival which remains a world leader in all open tournaments. 

The first ever three day seminar will be exclusive to some 16 young chess players from Gibraltar and will be held this week on Thursday 17, Friday 18 and Saturday 19 of January.

Some of the Rock’s promising juniors will take part in this one to one seminar with former Women’s World Champions, Ukraine Grand Masters, Anna and Mariya Muzychuk. Both sisters are consistently rated in the Top 6 of women’s world chess ratings.

The event has the full support of the Minister for the University Gilbert Licudi and will be under the general direction of GM Stuart Conquest, Gibraltar’s Community Chess Professional and Director of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival. The seminars will all be held at the University of Gibraltar with the support of University Vice-Chancellor Catherine Bachleda and her team.

The first seminar will start at 10am this Thursday 17 January.

Chess Festival Founder Brian Callaghan said he was delighted with this initiative and the support it had received and felt it was most appropriate that the very first chess seminar would be directed at the very best junior chess players in Gibraltar.

“It is a natural progression to develop Gibraltar not only as a leading centre to play and compete in chess but in conjunction with the University to juxtapose Gibraltar as a place of learning for chess students from around the world,” commented Mr Callaghan.

He confirmed chess professionals were supporting this initiative with GM Veselin Topolov, former World Champion, together with GM Elizabeth Paehtz, the strongest women player in Germany having already committed to the programme.

The organisers are also pleased to announce that this year, Wesley So, the 2017 USA Chess Champion will be visiting the seminar to hand out certificates to all the participants on Saturday.

Gibraltar is already renowned for hosting the best open chess tournament on the planet and very much as a haven for the women’s game, he added.

The Gibraltar International Chess Festival already has some 400 players travelling from some 60 countries to play in the 2019 Festival which will be held 21 – 31 January at the Caleta Hotel.

16-01-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR