PRESS RELEASE 11 Monday 2 February 2015

Gibraltar rules in the Battle of the Sexes

CAPTION: British No.1 David Howell makes the move as World No.4 Veselin Topalov holds on to the pieces. Pic: Sophie Triay.

The 3rd Battle of the Sexes took place at the Caleta Hotel on Saturday evening proving another hugely successful event. It is one of the many extra chess features which make the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival such a unique experience for the many rated and non rated players competing in this festival.

This year the Battle of the Sexes saw the presence of Gibraltar’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr Jospeh Garcia. Equality and Tourism Minister Samantha Sacramento and Minister Traffic, Health and Safety Paul Balban. Also in Gibraltar for the occasion was the President of the English Chess Federation Dominic Lawson who is playing in this week’s tournament.

The Master of Ceremonies, from Gibraltar, was Paul Lyon and the arbiters: Stephen Boyd (France); Rainer Niermann (Germany).

Before the event there was a special classical guitar recital by Tormund Blikra Vea (Norway), who is playing (chess) in the second week in the amateur event.

CAPTION : Standing at the centre of the women’s team is organiser of the festival Brian Callaghan who has always been highly supportive of the women’s game. Sitting with the ladies far right is Gibraltar’s Equality Minister Samantha Sacramento talking to Jovanka Houska.

The women's captain was Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), former Women's World Champion. The men's captain was Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), world number 4.

Women's team in round 1: Natalia Zhukova (Ukraine); Salome Melia (Georgia); Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine); Jovanka Houska (England); Harika Dronavalli (India) & Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany).

Men's team in round 1: Peter Svidler (Russia); Surya Ganguly (India); Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria); Hikaru Nakamura (USA); Wei Yi (China); David Howell (England).

Other players who took part in later rounds were for the women: Tania Sachdev (India); Ju Wenjun (China). For the men Ruben Felgaer (Argentina); Ivan Salgado (Spain); Pentala Harikrishna (India); Lawrence Trent (England); Pontus Carlsson (Sweden).

CAPTION: Stuart Conquest tournament director, with his dashing hat and I love Gibraltar t-shirt, with the men’s team, waiting on the ladies to make the next move.

In the end, after long drawn battle, it was the men who won games one and two but it was the third ended a draw. And in the final result it was the men who won 2,5-0,5.

CAPTION: Shirley Callaghan receives cheques for the Neurolastoma charity from the Captain of the winning men’s team Veselin Topalov and the ladies team Captain Antoaneta Stefanova.. Pic: Sophie Triay.

At the end of the event both captains presented cheques for £500 to Shirley Callaghan for the Neuroblastoma Society.

Lots of photos from the Battle of the Sexes can be found on the official website: www.gibraltarchesscongress.com

 Alice Mascarenhas, John Saunders and Leontxo Garcia, Tradewise Press Chess Officersgibchesspress@gmail.com | www.gibraltarchesscongress.com  Steve Connor, Webmaster.  

All 2015 Tradewise Festival reports are also on our Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter @GibraltarChess #GibChess or @Stuthefox with TD Stuart Conquest.