The Gibraltar International Chess Festival boasts the most diverse team of nations on the boards and in its organisation when compared to other open tournaments around the world.

“The diversity of this tournament at every level – players and arbiters – is hugely important. We have 62 nations represented amongst the players. To have six or seven represented amongst the arbiters is excellent for the festival,” says Tournament director Stuart Conquest.

Diversity in players and in the working team of arbiters is something Mr Conquest has promoted and encouraged while ensuring the competition works like clockwork.

This year, a team of eight arbiters have run all the tournaments – Amateur, Challengers and Gibraltar Masters - during the ten day festival. They monitor play making sure everyone keeps to the rules and regulations of play as well as manning and invigilating all three daily tournaments.

Annually the team includes English and Spanish arbiters. All arbiters are qualified, experienced and recommended.

The selection of the team annually is carried out by Mr Conquest and Chief Aribiter Laurent Freyd who has been coming to Gibraltar since 2009 and has been at the head of the Gibraltar Masters since 2010 and of the whole festival since last year. He is also the Chief Arbiter of the French Chess Federation and is Chairman of the Arbiters Commission of FIDE. He has also arbitrated at the World Rapid & Blitz Championship 2018 in St Petersburg, Grand Chess Tour Final 2018 in London, Biel International Chess Festival 2018 (Switzerland).

This year, six nationalities have been represented in the arbitration team from France, England, Spain, Estonia, Serbia, Germany and for the first time from Iran. Between them they speak more than 10 languages.

Mr Freyd is also keen to maintain this diversity and has always felt it was a good move on the part of the organisers as it gives a very positive message to all participants.

“Internationality is in the DNA of this tournament,” he emphasises.

He also likes the idea of introducing guest arbiters annually.

This year, the guest arbiter is Shohreh Bayat, from Iran.

“It's important to have arbiters from around the world as it encourages exchanges. The team is very well experienced and technically trained, so, this is a way for arbiters to increase their experience in the strongest open in the world. New blood is always a good opportunity to listen to other points of views and practices. It keeps us on our toes.”

THE ARBITERS TEAM

Chief Arbiter of the festival: Laurent FREYD (International Arbiter - France)

Morning tournaments: Deputy Chief arbiter : Stephen BOYD (International Arbiter – Canada/France)
Arbiters : Margit BROKKO (International Arbiter - Estonia), Priscilla MORRIS (National Arbiter - England), Ruben VALHONDO MORALES (National Arbiter - Spain)

Gibraltar Masters: Deputy Chief arbiter : Aleksandra DIMITRIJEVIC (International Arbiter - Serbia)

Arbiters: Shohreh BAYAT (International Arbiter - Iran), Jesus GARCIA VALER (Spain), German MALDONADO VALDIVIA (Spain)

Pics: top left and middle: The Arbiters – the team is led by Chief Arbiter Laurent Freyd. Pic: David Llada.

Bottom: Festival founder Brian Callaghan introduced International arbiter Shohreh Bayat from Iran to Gibraltar’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia. Pic: John Saunders.

{fcomment}