Jan 30 Chess Festival - Masters Round 8
John Saunders reports: England’s Nigel Short, three times winner of the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters, fought back from a second round defeat to share the lead with Nikita Vitiugov of Russia at the end of round eight at the Caleta Hotel. The two players have 7/8 and lead Gata Kamsky of USA, Yu Yangyi of China and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France by half a point with two rounds remaining.
“What is it about Nigel Short and Gibraltar?” asked tournament director Stuart Conquest on Twitter (@stuthefox). He is not the only chess expert to be amazed by the form Short always shows here, year after year. Nigel Short was ninth in the start of tournament rankings in the Masters but he always raises his game at this tournament and thrives on the atmosphere at the event. He is currently on a run of six wins in a row in pursuit of the £20,000 first prize.
The PDP is proud of the GFA’s futsal squad on its historic achievement at the UEFA Euro 2014 preliminaries for their 7-5 win against San Marino and for their best efforts against the other stronger teams of France and Montenegro. Congratulations and what a great way to set out on the road to full membership. It is unfortunate yet unsurprising that Spain has immediately announced again its intention to take whatever legal action necessary to block Gibraltar’s membership.
Anne Mesilio has dropped us another email with an update on the progress of the Special Olympics Team.
Hi everyone, an update for those of you who, for any number of reasons may not have been able to watch the Opening Ceremony. Well, it all went Gangham style!!!! honest.
John Saunders reports: For the first time this year the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters tournament has a sole leader. Russia’s Nikita Vitiugov defeated Kiril Georgiev in a six-hour struggle to move to the head of the field with a score of 6½/7 (six wins and one draw). Three players trail him on 6 points: Le Quang Liem, of Vietnam, Gata Kamsky, USA, and England’s Nigel Short. Three rounds remain.
