Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2011Monday 24 January - Thursday 3 February 2011
PRESS RELEASE 23 JANUARY 2011
WORLD CHAMPION HOU YIFAN HAS HAD TO PULL OUT OF GIBRALTAR TRADEWISE CHESS FESTIVAL 2011
Hou Yifan the current Women's World Chess Champion has had to pull out of the Gibraltar Tradewise Chess Festival 2011 at the eleventh- hour. The young Chinese player informed the organizers of her decision, due to personal reasons because of critical illness in her family, as she was about to travel to the Rock for the tournament.
Tournament organizer Brian Callaghan obviously disappointed at the news, nonetheless said,he understood her decision: “Here in Gibraltar like in many other countries family comes first; and we fully understand Hou Yifan’s decision not to travel. Our thoughts and best wishes are with her at this time.”
He realized she would obviously be missed during the 10 days of competition for a number of reasons: “She is the Woman’s World Champion, she is a delightful young lady and commentators have described her as possibly the best talent since Judit Polgar. To have had her playing in our open tournament would have been a chess excitement. I am sure she will also miss playing our tournament in Gibraltar as there are over 20 players with higher ratings than Hou Yifan led by one of the greatest players in chess, Vassily Ivanchuk. The tournament is a huge challenge as it is for all our woman players.”
Mr Callaghan said he was particularly grateful to the Chinese Chess Federation for helping arrange and agreeing to Hou Yifan’s visit to the Tradewise Chess Tournament in Gibraltar.
Looking ahead to the tenth edition of the tournament next year Mr Callaghan said he very much look forward to welcoming her to Gibraltar in 2012.”
Throughout this weekend players from all over the world have been arriving on the Rock for what promises to be the best competitive tournament yet.
In fact the Tradewise Chess Festival 2011 will still see six out of the world's top 10 ranked female chess players participating. Tatiana Kosintseva (4), Nadezhda Kosintseva (5), Nana Dzagnidze (6), Antoaneta Stefanova (7), Viktorija Cmilyte (9), and Dronavalli Harika (10).
As far as the men are concerned the ranking is also pretty much at the top level. The top ranked player is Vasily Ivanchuk from the Ukraine. British champion Michael Adams is back to defend the title he won here last year. Former World Championship finalist Nigel Short will also be playing. He was in Gibraltar nine years ago for the first tournament in 2003.
Also returning for the second time is Fabiano Caruana the Italian Champion and Paco Vallejo the Spanish champion and last year’s finalist with Michael Adams.
The Festival starts on Monday with the Challengers and the Amateurs. The Gibraltar Masters starts on Tuesday 3pm.
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
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