Monday 23 January - Thursday 2 February 2012
WOMEN IN CHESS IN A MIXED EVENT: GREATEST GATHERING EVER WILL BE IN
GIBRALTAR
Stuart Conquest Director of the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, scheduled to
begin next week, believes the tournament in its 10th edition will see the largest
concentrate of women chess players ever in a mixed event. He writes:
The greatest ever gathering of female chess players in a mixed event takes place on the Rock in a
week's time. Never before have so many of the world's top women joined leading male players to
compete in the same tournament.
Led by the brilliant Judit Polgar, the youngest of the three Hungarian sisters who between them
broke every chess record in the books, this year's female contingent includes champion players
from China, India, Russia, the Ukraine, and the USA.
All eyes will be on the reigning Women's World Champion, 17 year-old Hou Yifan, coming to
Gibraltar for the first time. Indian sensation Humpy Koneru will be keen to score well - if things go
her way she could take home the special £5,000 Commonwealth prize. Anna Muzychuk, from
Slovakia, has been in scintillating form lately, and looks a good bet for a high placing.
Other female stars to follow include former World Champions Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and
Zhu Chen (Qatar), former European Champion Pia Cramling, and American rivals Irina Krush and
Anna Zatonskih.
From Georgia, a nation famous for its support of women's chess, come four top players, including
last year's joint female winners: Nana Dzagnidze and Salome Melia. Let's also not forget British
Women's champion Jovanka Houska, who in December recorded a career-best performance at the
London Chess Classic Open.
As well as the elite women players, many lesser-ranked females are coming to the Rock too, eager
to show the men a thing or two. We have women entrants from Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
Montenegro, and France, as well as from further afield: Chile and Pakistan are both sending
players. The men had better watch out: the chess world's best females are coming this way, and
they aren't just coming for fun - they are here on business, and that can only mean one thing: to
win.
Make a note in your diary... Masters (Open to all): Tues 24 January - Thurs 2 February
(10-round Swiss, FIDE rated) Challengers A (Under 2250): Mon 23 January - Fri 27
January (5 rounds, FIDE rated) Challengers B (Under 2250): Sat 28 January - Wed 1
February (5 rounds, FIDE rated) Amateurs A (Under 1800): Mon 23 January - Fri 27
January (5 rounds, FIDE rated) Amateurs B (Under 1800): Sat 28 January - Wed 1
February (5 rounds, FIDE rated). Play starts every morning at 9am. The Masters start
every afternoon at 3pm.
The 2012 Tradewise International Chess Festival. The tenth anniversary promises to be the best
ever on all fronts.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]
Alice Mascarenhas
Tradewise Chess Press Officer
-Press Office
2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival
www.gibraltarchesscongress.com