23/12/2010
Pace makes it three in a row - 75th Chess Finals
| Back to Index |
CM Colin Pace, of Zejtun, retained his title of National chess Champion for the third consecutive year after beating second-seed CM Joseph Gauci at this year's chess finals held at the chess Academy of St Benedict College in Kirkop. The four game deciding match was a result of the fact that at the all-play-all, top six competition, Pace and Gauci had finished on equal points after ten rounds of play.
The first two games, using classical time-control, were both drawn after around three hours of play. In the next set of two games, with reduced time-contol, Pace managed a good win with the black pieces in game one. This win put pressure on Gauci who now had to force a win in the the second game. Pace, with the white pieces, played another good game with a strong attack on the queen side where black's a-pawn was weakened considerably. He then slowly pushed his c-pawn up the board until it reached the fifth rank where it became evident that it could not be stopped. Gauci resigned the game and the match.
A unique finale to the 75th edition of the National Chess Finals and a great conquest for Pace who confirmed his dominance in the local chess scene. Gauci was also second in 2009.
CM Colin Pace started playing at the age of twelve at St.Paul's Missionary College in Rabat and two years later played in his first local tournament organised by the Malta Chess Federation. He was twice Malta Junior Champion U/20 (1997 and 1999) and represented Malta several times overseas, most notably being his participation in the U/16 Olympiad and his presence in seven Chess Olympiads (Yerevan 1996, Kalmykia 1998, Bled 2002, Mallorca 2004, Torino 2006, Dresden 2008 and Khanty Mansiysk 2010). At Khanty Mansiysk Pace managed to beat an ex-World women champion, grandmaster Zhu Chen of Qatar.
CM Pace is also a chess teacher at the Chess Academy of St.Benedict College and a council member of the Malta Chess Federation. He obtained the FIDE Candidate Master title in Torino 2006.
Colin Pace, who is married to Olivia-Ann nee' Marmara', has a B.Sc.(Hons) degree in IT from the University of Malta.
| Back to Index |
29/11/2010
Andre Xuereb wins Junior Title - CHESS
| Back to Index |
Andre Xuereb wins Junior Title - CHESS
Andre Xuereb, 19 years, of Sliema, is the new Malta Junior Chess Champion following his success at this year's Junior Chess Championship held at the Chess Academy classrooms of St Benedict College in Kirkop.
Xuereb, who is reading for a degree (BA Law) at the University of Malta, deservedly won the annual competition organised by the Malta Chess Federation. He won four games and drew one to finish at the top of the table with 4(1/2) points out of 5.
Luca Vassallo won the U-18 title for the second year running whereas Jake Darmanin clinged the U-16 title.
| Back to Index |
22/09/2010
T39th Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk Russia
| Back to Index |
One hundred and forty eight teams from almost as many countries (Russia as host has four teams) are currently taking part in the 39th International Chess Olympiad staged at Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia.
In round one Malta lost to the big guns of Italy by 3˝ to ˝ with T.Sorensen picking the half point thanks to his draw with Italy's second in command, Grandmaster Michele Godena. Youngster Fabiano Caruana, Italy's prodigy and best ever chess player was rested. In round two of eleven Malta will play Ethiopia and the boards will be as follow: brd1 C.Pace, brd2 J.Gauci, brd3 D.Vella and brd4 P.Sammut Briffa.
The top seeded team is Russia-1 followed by Ukraine and China. Malta is seeded 104.
Links to Olympiad: http://www.chess-results.com/Tnr36795.aspx?art=33&lan=1
This year is also the election year for the FIDE (International Chess Federation) top places. Current President HE Kishan Ilyumzhinoz, who is also the President Of the Russian republic of Kalmykia, is being challenged by Mr.Anatoly Karpov, an ex-world chess champion. Geoffrey D.Borg, President of the local chess Federation and one of the six Vice Presidents of FIDE, was election campaign manager for Ilyumzhinoz and has high hopes that they will retain their places at the helm of FIDE.
| Back to Index |
13/09/2010
Junior Chess Champions
| Back to Index |
A fairy tale finish for the Portelli family of Zurrieq as masters Timothy and Isaac secured the top spot of both the under-10 and the under-8 category at this year's Junior Chess Championship last Friday.
The competition, organised by the Malta Chess Federation, was held at Stella Maris College in Gzira where junior chess is striving thanks to the efforts of College director Brother David, a keen chess enthusiast himself, and members from the Malta Chess Federation.
In the under 8s second place was won by Matthew Bugeja.
Second place in the under 10s was taken by Michael Farrugia, who had a great tournament, while Gabriel Grima managed a meritable third with 3/5 points.
The 'eternal rivals' Jamie Farrugia, Adrian Cutajar and Gabriel Farrugia had to play a grueling three round decider on the last day of the competition to determine the top notch of the U-12 category. At the end it was Jamie's cool nerves that won her the honours as she managed to beat both her rivals in time-troubled Blitz games. She was declared U-12 Champion. Gabriel took second place and Adrian was third.
In the top category the overall winner was Jean Pierre Xuereb. Xuereb won four out of five games. Julian Camilleri was second whilst Max Depasquale was third.
A special mention goes to Matthias Parnis for his debut and good show amongst much stronger opposition; to Benjamin Zammit for his quick mind to resolve difficult chess puzzles during the break time; to Tristan Vella and Rafel Grima for the good games they played and for not giving up when the odds were against them.
At the end of the competition Stephen Farrugia, on behalf of the Malta Chess Federation, thanked the participants and their numerous relatives for their continuous support. He thanked Brother David, of Stella Maris for hosting the competition and finally congratulated all the players for their enthusiasm and for all the good moves they played. He reminded them that success requires effort and in chess, not unlike other subjects, the key is studying. A chess player must balance the amount of time available between playing the game and studying the games of the masters.
Raymond Azzopardi, who was the tournament director, distributed the prizes to the winners.
| Back to Index |
27/1/2010
Italian Nicola Vozza wins Malta Chess Open (for 2009)
| Back to Index |
| Back to Index |
4/1/2010
Christmas school chess tournament
| Back to Index |
The End of 2009 Christmas Chess Tournament took place in St Elias College Santa Venera on the 23rd of December. 36 students in all took part in this 5 rounds Tournament. The time limit was 15 minutes per player per game.
The Tournament was won by Jake Darmanin who is a St Michael School student. Jake won all 5 games and thus was declared the Under 16 Winner. In round 4 Jake had a terrible position against Jurgen Grima and with only a few minutes from losing on time. However he showed experience and battling spirit to the end and found a mating pattern.
The Under 14 winner is Jean Luc Mangion who had a very good Tournament as well and scored 4.5 points out of the full 5. Jean Luc hails from Pembroke and ironically lost a half point in a Winning Position against Jurgen who was declared the best St Elias Student.
The Under 12 was won by Gabriel Farrugia who is a St Benedicts student. Gabriel had a very good Tournament as well and scored 4 points. The best female in the Tournament was won again by Jamie Farrugia.
The Under 10 was won by Andrew Thake with 3 points and the Under 8 by Michael Farrugia, Jamie's brother.
Players who had a good Tournament are brothers Aquilina, Matthew and Thomas. Matthew scored 4 points and his brother, who is only 7 years old, scored 2 points.
The Chief Arbiter was Peter Sammut Briffa helped by the organiser Raymond Azzopardi. Fr Charles Mallia, St Elias's Rector, in his message, thanked those who took part in this Tournament, underlining the importance of thinking in chess and in real life.
The tournament's details can be found here
| Back to Index |
| Back to Index |