Feb 07 - Cheparinov Wins Tradewise Gibraltar Masters

Written on 07 February 2014.

Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria was the surprise winner of the 2014 Tradewise Gibraltar Masters chess tournament after a rapid play tie-break was needed to determine the overall winner after three players tied for the £20,000 first prize.

The overnight leader Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine had a short but eventful draw with Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France in the tenth and final round. That took him to a total of 8 points out of ten. It was then a question of whether any of the players on 7 points overnight could win and catch him to force a tie-break. Finally two managed to do so: last year's winner, Nikita Vitiugov of Russia managed to defeat Zhao Xue of China, who had been leading the chase for the top female prize of £15,000, and Ivan Cheparinov of Bulgaria beat Gata Kamsky of the USA in a long game.

So Ivanchuk, Vitiugov and Cheparinov all finished on 8 out of 10 and had to play a rapid play tie-break. Lots were drawn and first Vitiugov and Ivanchuk had to play a head-to-head with the winner meeting Cheparinov in a final play-off. Vitiugov beat Ivanchuk over four games but he was no match for Cheparinov in the final showdown.

It was a remarkable achievement for Ivan Cheparinov who only ranked in 17th place in the tournament's initial rating order and 75th in the world. He played in the 2010 Gibtelecom Masters when he scored 7 out of 10.

Zhao Xue, who had led the chase for the women's prize, stumbled at the last fence, losing to Vitugov as already mentioned, so finished on 7 out of 10. This allowed her to be caught by two other women players, Mariya Muzychuk and Nataliya Zhukova, both of Ukraine. Mariya Muzychuk had recorded the best rating performance so was awarded the £15,000 top women's prize.

Stephen Whatley of Gibraltar lost his final round game to Martyn Hamer of England so finished on 3 out of 10. Despite this, he gained 8 international rating points overall. Alan Gravett of Gibraltar also lost his last game, against Thomas Biegel, to finish on 3 points. He only lost one international rating point as a result.

This final round game from the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters had a snappy finish.