Chess Moves Enero - Febrero 2011 | Page 12

86th Hastings International Chess Congress on the technology front with more live games being shown and webcams for the internet audience. Chris Ward was able to pick up the games in the commentary room which enabled him to switch between games with ease. Each year, as the Congress draws closer, the organisers in Hastings begin paying close attention to the weather forecasts and dread a white Christmas. Thoughts of David Welch being unable to drive down on Boxing Day with all the equipment or the resulting travel chaos cause nightmares. The weather prior to the recent Congress made these scenarios seem likely. However, Hastings micro-climate seemed to be in evidence again and on the 28th December the 86th Congress was opened by Deputy Mayor of Hastings, Councillor Alan Roberts and Councillor Jeremy Birch, Leader of Hastings Borough Council. CJ de Mooi visited the Congress in his capacity as President of the ECF. He presented a giant chess set to a local aventure playground, in2play and opened the 28th Weekend Congress. This was won by GM Stuart Conquest. The event was again generously sponsored by Hastings Borough Council with additional help from the White Rock Hotel, the Chatsworth Hotel, Gwalia, the Pig in Paradise, KC Computers and Deutsch UK Ltd. Entries held up despite public transport being affected by what seemed like one long bank holiday. There were 434 entries and 23 countries were represented. There was a large Indian contingent in the Masters this year and they provided commentators and spectators with some exciting chess as well as joint first-prize winners. GM Deep Sengupta and Arghydir Das also jointly hold the Golombek Trophy for one year with 7 points. Gerhana Chkartina, Yemi Jelsen & GM David Howell The prize giving was attended by Mayor of Hastings, Cllr Kim Forward and MP for Hastings & Rye, Amber Rudd. This followed a reception kindly given by the Trustees of Horntye Park. The Congress ran smoothly and the organisers now turn their attention to the future. Full details of the games and results can be found on the congress website www.hastingschess.org.uk - Pam Thomas, HICC Press Officer Cllr Forward and Amber Rudd, MP, present the joint first prize Three of last year’s winners, Eduard (FRA), Howell (Eng) and Istratescu (Rou) joined Gormally (Eng) Prasanna (Ind) and another former winner, Neverov (Uk) in joint second place with 6.5 points Prasanna achieved his first GM norm and Gerhana Chkartine of Indonesia achieved a WIM norm. As well as entertaining chess, there were developments 12 Thomas Rendle and Lateefah Messam-Sparkes