4th Gibtelecom Masters, 24 Jan - 2 Feb 2006

Last edited on Tuesday 25-Oct-2005 0:22 AM

A presentation was held at the RAC Club Club, Pall Mall, London, on 24 October 2005 to publicise the forthcoming 4th Gibtelecom Masters tournament (to be held at the Caleta Hotel, Gibraltar, from 24 Jan to 2 Feb 2006. This tournament is the strongest annual event held under the auspices of the English Chess Federation (note new name as of 22 October). The fourth edition of this ambitious event will feature 30+ GMs, headed by players of the calibre of Alexei Shirov and Nigel Short, and the intention is to develop the tournament still further in future years.

Official Gibtelecom Masters website: http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/

Gibtelecom Four-Hander Blitz Challenge

After the presentation, there was a unique four-hander blitz game featuring world no. 14 Alexei Shirov partnered by 7-year-old Peter Andreev, playing leading English GM Jonathan Speelman partnered by 8-year-old Edmund Harding. Both juniors are members of Richmond Junior Chess Club, and they both gave a very good account of themselves and were not overawed by the occasion.

The rules of this four-hander game were as follows: each player on the two-player teams played alternate moves without consultation. Thus, after the team of Alexei Shirov and Peter Andreev won the toss and chose the White pieces, Shirov made the first move for his team, then Speelman, then Peter Andreev, then Edmund Harding, with Alexei Shirov making move 3 for White. Thus, when you are following the score, remember that the two GMs played all the odd-numbered moves, while the two Richmond Junior Chess Club players played the even-numbered moves. The time limit was 5 minutes for all the moves, with 10 seconds added on after each move played.

Distinguished arbiter Stewart Reuben puts the two youngsters at their ease by doing his world-famous chicken impersonation. Well, OK, what he is really doing is conducting the draw for colours. "Left hand!", says Peter Andreev (right), correctly identifying in which hand Stewart has hidden the white pawn. Meanwhile Edmund Harding awaits his partner, Jonathan Speelman.

"Do I have to split my appearance fee with him?" Alexei Shirov irons out the rules of the event.
Actually he was just confirming who was to make the first move...

"Relax, kid, I think we've got them rattled already!" Jon Speelman encourages his diminutive partner.

"Game on!". Alexei Shirov plays 1 e4, while his partner, arbiter and game scorer Scott Kenyon look on.

"My go!". Peter Andreev castles.

"OK, let's defend the e-pawn...". Edmund Harding looks on approvingly as the grandmaster moves.

Edmund Harding plays the careful retreat 6...Bb6.

"Eh? What are you doing, partner?" Peter Andreev seems puzzled by Alexei Shirov's move.

"CHECKMATE!" To Edmund Harding went the honour of playing the final move of the game.

Here's the full game score...

White: Alexei Shirov/Peter Andreev
Black: Jonathan Speelman/Edmund Harding
Gibtelecom Four-Hander Blitz Challenge, RAC Club, London, 24.10.2005

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Nf6 4 0-0 Bc5 5 c3 d6 6 d4 Bb6 7 Bg5 h6 8 Bh4 Bg4 9 d5 Nb8 10 Bxf6 Qxf6 11 Nbd2 0-0 12 b4 Nd7 13 Be2 Qe7 14 a4 c6 15 a5 Bc7 16 c4 Rfe8 17 a6 cxd5 18 cxd5 bxa6 19 Rxa6 Bb6 20 Bb5 Red8 21 h3 Bh5 22 Bc6 Rab8 23 g4 Bg6 24 Re1 Nf6 25 Nh4 Nh7 26 Nxg6 fxg6 27 Kg2 Rf8 28 Nc4 Rxf2+ 29 Kg3 Qf6 30 Qc1 Qf3+ 31 Kh4 g5+ 32 Kh5 Qf7 mate 0-1

Moves were made in the following order - Shirov (white), Speelman (black), Andreev (white), Harding (black) - hence the two grandmasters played all the odd-numbered moves.

© 2005 John Saunders, text and photos. For permission to use photos, please email me.

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