2010 Gibtelecom Chess Festival: Schedule

CONGRESS DATES

Gibtelecom Masters (Open to all) - 26 January - 4 February 2010 (10 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Challengers A (Under 2250) - 26-30 January 2010 (5 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Challengers B (Under 2250) - 31 January - 4 February 2010 (5 rounds Swiss, FIDE rated)

Amateur A (Under 1800) - 26-30 January 2010 (5 rounds Swiss)

Amateur B (Under 1800) - 31 January - 4 February 2010 (5 rounds Swiss)

Special Events, Registration, Prize-Giving - click here for details

Junior Congress - 6-7 February 2010.

All events hosted by the Caleta Hotel, Gibraltar

GIBTELECOM MASTERS - 26 JANUARY - 4 FEBRUARY 2010

The Masters shall start daily at 15.00hrs for rounds 1-9.
The players who are in contention for the first prize, or their last round opponents, shall start round 10 at 10.00hrs. All other games shall start at the usual time of 15.00hrs.
In the event of a tie for first place, there shall be a speed play off. If there are 4 or fewer players tied for 1st place there will be a speed knock out play off for the first place. If more than 4 players tie for 1st place the top 4 shall be decided on performance rating.
The rate of play is 40 moves in 100 minutes plus 20 moves in 50 minutes plus 15 minutes for all remaining moves with 30 seconds per move added from the start.
Players who wish to take one half-point bye in the Masters may do so, provided they give adequate notice. However no player may request a bye in the last four rounds.
The Masters is part of the MONROI GRAND PRIX and ACP TOUR (subject to confirmation).

DEFAULT TIME

Players arriving 30 minutes or more after the start of a session shall lose, unless the Arbiter decides otherwise.

SHORT DRAWS

Draws by mutual agreement in under 30 moves are not allowed. There must be no pre-arranged or tacit agreements to draw games of any length, by repetition or otherwise. Genuine draws by repetition or stalemate are acceptable. Penalties may involve loss of prize money.

The main playing hall at the Caleta Hotel, Gibraltar

WEEK ONE EVENTS: 26-30 JANUARY 2010

Both Challengers and Amateurs play daily at 10.00hrs.

The rate of play is all the moves in 110 minutes + 10 seconds per move added from the start. The games rarely last more than four hours and competitors can play in the Masters as well as a morning event. Default time will be as for the Masters.

WEEK TWO EVENTS: 31 JANUARY - 4 FEBRUARY 2010

Both Challengers and Amateurs play daily at 10.00hrs.

JUNIOR (UNDER 18) CONGRESS - 6-7 FEBRUARY 2010

Separate details will be available from the Caleta Hotel. Email

SPECIAL EVENTS

ENTRY TO ALL THESE EVENTS IS FREE

Monday	25	by 20:00 hrs	Deadline for registration Opening ceremony at a buffet dinner with random pairings to be drawn of top boards by Miss Gibraltar
Monday	25	from 22:00 hrs	Display of Pairings
Wednesday	27	from 21:00 hrs	Chess Master Class
Wednesday	27	from 22:00 hrs	Poker Master Class
Thursday	28	from 21:00 hrs	Teams of Four Blitz, prize money £500
Friday	29	from 21:00 hrs	Chess Master Class
Saturday	30	from 16:00 hrs	Challengers A and Amateur A prizegiving
Saturday	30	from 21:00 hrs	Any Questions to a Panel of Experts (GM Sergei Movsesian, GM Jon Speelman, IM Irina Krush, Stewart Reuben)
Sunday	31	from 21:00 hrs	Chess Master Class
Monday	1	from 21:00 hrs	Casino Poker evening at the Gala Casino Gibraltar with transport provided *
Tuesday	2	from 21:00 hrs	Team pairs blitz (team total rating not to exceed 4600), prize money £500
Thursday	4	from 21:00 hrs	Closing Ceremony and Gala Prizegiving Dinner at the Caleta Hotel by invitation

RATINGS AND GRADES

All games in Masters, Challengers and Amateur events shall be graded in the English Chess Federation List. The Masters and both Challengers shall be FIDE Rated.

COMMENTARY

This will take place daily in the afternoon and be conducted by Grandmaster Stuart Conquest in both English and Spanish.
Audience participation will be encouraged.
Commentaries can be followed from this website.

CHESS MASTER CLASSES

Selected games by non-professional players or analysis of their own games shall be the subject of master classes offered by grandmasters.

CHESS COACHING

This will be particularly effective when used for preparing for the following day. Such a facility has never before been offered anywhere.
To avail themselves of this possibility, players may wish to take the optional half-point bye one afternoon.

POKER

There will be a poker evening exclusively for Chess players at the Gibraltar Casino. A finger buffet and transport will be included. Pre-registration is required. Stewart Reuben, the author of many books on poker, will be conducting the Master Class.