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Home » OBE for Brian Callaghan for services to chess

An OBE is rarely awarded for services to chess, but there was one such award in the latest New Year's Honours list. Most readers will not know Brian Callaghan, but he is the founder and the driving force behind the Gibraltar Chess Festival, which will shortly celebrate its 10th anniversary. The congress attracts several hundred players from over 40 countries and the Caleta Hotel, a charming venue under the shadow of The Rock, is always at capacity.

The 2011 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival begins in ten days time and will welcome over 100 titled players including 57 GMs. The main event is the most prestigious Open event held under the auspices of the ECF. Brian has always encouraged women's chess and the tournament always ncludes a healthy prize fund for a women's competition subsumed into the main event. The world's leading female player Judit Polgar, who always avoids women's events, has agreed to play this year, quite a coup. Brian's OBE was for services to tourism and chess, he is also a former Deputy Chairman of the Gibraltar Heritage Trust. The success of Gibraltar chess, which includes a vibrant junior program, will be recognised by the Governor of Gibraltar with a dinner on the 24^th

Last year's winner at Gibraltar was Vassily ivanchuk, who surpassed Nigel Short's fine scoreof 8.5/10. Ivanchuk scored 9/10 and defeated Short in their individual game. Ivanchuk won't be at Gibrlatar this year, his next outing is at Wijk aan Zee starting tomorrow. His last tournament, at Reggio Emilia saw him have one of those collapses which seem to afflict him from time to time.

Today's puzzle is from an Ivanchuk victory at the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters in 2011.White to play and win.

Answer:

35.Nxc6! Ra7

(35...Rxc6 35.Ra5+ mates)

36.Rcb5 1-0

Black will be mated on b8,Ivanchuk- Lafuente.

A brilliant victory over an elite GM for Nana Dzaganidze, who has won the ladies tournament at Gibraltar twice.

In seeking to avoid the line 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nd7 13.e6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bf4 which promises few winning chances, Black takes too many risks.

N Dzagnidze - F Vallejo Pons

King's Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 8.e4 Rb8 9.h3 b5 10.e5 Ne811.Ng5

(Unmasking the bishop on g2)

11...Na5 12.e6! Bxe6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.c5 e5

(14...dxc5 15.dxc5 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Nf6 18.Bf4)

15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.Bg5 Nc4 17.Nd5 Nf6 18.b3!! Bxa1 19.Qxa1 Ne5 20.f4 Nd3?

(If 20...Ned7 21.Re1 Rf7 22.Nb4 White wins two exchanges after 22...Nxc5 23.Nc6 Qf8 24.Nxb8 Qxb8 25.Bxf6 exf6 26.Bd5)

21.c6! Rf7 22.Rd1 Nc5 23.Re1 Qf8

24.Rxe7! Rxe7

(24...Ne8 25.b4 h6 26.Bh4 g5 27.Rxf7 Kxf7 28.fxg5 hxg5 29.Bxg5)

25.Nxf6+ Kf7 26.Bd5+ Ne6

(26...Re6 27.Nd7 Qh8 28.Bf6)

27.Nd7 Qh8 28.Bf6 Qg8 29.Bxe7 Kxe7 30.Qf6+ 1-0

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