Jan 31 - Chess Festival Master Class Proves Successful
On Wednesday evening at the Caleta Hotel we were treated to the first of four Master Classes planned for this year's Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival. Two players shared duties at the commentary desk: Elisabeth Paehtz (Germany's top female player) and England's Nigel Short.
Both chose to show their games from that afternoon. Elisabeth very nearly beat elite grandmaster Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine); in the end the number 5 seed, here in Gibraltar for the first time, escaped with a draw.
Visiting the annual 2014 Tradewise Chess Festival yesterday at the Caleta hotel, His Excellency the Governor and Lady Dutton were met by tournament organiser Brian Callaghan, Tamara Stewart-Wilson and tournament director Stuart Conquest. Also there to greet him were sponsors James Humphreys from Tradewise and Denis Llafferty from Saccone & Speed and Coca Cola. 
Lieutenant Commander (Retired), Geof Alexander retired from the MOD this week after 48 years service. He was presented with framed images of Gibraltar and HMS Capable, which Geof was captain of within his career.
HM Customs seized a total of 28,000 cigarettes outside a retail premises in Fish Market Road on Wednesday afternoon. A 22 year old from La Linea had been spotted with 8,000 cigarettes (40 cartons) and a search of the surrounding area resulted in the detection of a further 20,000 cigarettes (100 cartons) in a locally registered vehicle. 
