Gibraltar intenational chess tournament under way

GIBRALTAR - The Rock's annual chess tournament got under way on Monday at the Caleta Hotel. Offering  £109,100 in prizes, the Tradewise Chess Festival 2011 brings together  about 300 players from some 50 countries, including most of Europe, others from the USA and China. Several degrees, including Gibraltar Masters, Challenger and Amateur tournaments, are played simultaneously with the presence of the likes of British Champion Nigel Short, who won the first Gibraltar tournament nine years ago and returns after  a number years, as well as the current British Champion Mickey Adams, who won last year and is back to defend his title. The women's section is strong this year, too, although the current Women's World Chess Champion, Hou Yifan pulled out at the eleventh- hour. The young Chinese player informed the organizers of her decision, due to personal reasons because of critical illness in her family, as she was about to travel to the Rock. (More info on www.gibraltarchesscongress.com, from whom photo of Vassily Ivanchuk and Miss Gibraltar, Larissa Dalli, at opening ceremony)