Strong Oz Contingent at Gibraltar Chess Congress

The Gibraltar Chess Congress was won this week by GM Vladimir Akopian of Armenia on 7.5/9 ahead of a three-way dead-heat for second between Alexander Areshchenko (Ukraine), Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and Emil Sutovsky (Israel).

There was a strong Australian contingent in this tournament. GM Ian Rogers, IM David Smerdon, Queensland junior – soon to be IM – Moulthun Ly, and Sydneysider, Malcolm Tredennick. David and Moulthun were both seeking their final GM/IM norms in this but just missed out. Moulthun only needed to win his final game to get the norm.

The Smurf led the Australians home with 5.5/9, followed by Ian and Moulthun on 4.5, with Malcolm just behind with 4 points.

Malcolm Tredennick found himself faced with one of Simon Webb’s Heffalumps in Round 3. After winning his Round 2 game he was paired with former US Champion Hikaru Nakamura. (If you’ve never met a Heffalump – or if you’ve met one but didn’t know what it was – read Chess for Tigers.)

You can see the full cross table here: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/Gib2007/Masters%20Crosstable.html


To view selected games of Gibtelecom Masters using ChessTheatre, click here www.rootyhillchess.org/chesstheatre/Gibral/CT_Gibral.html