With such a large field, and no accelerated pairings, the first round gap was 467 rating points (ie the difference in the rating of the players on board 1). Nonetheless there were a few upsets, with 4 GM's getting taken down by their lower rated opponent (for an example see below). But most survived and there are already GM v GM match ups on the top 4 boards.
Coverage of the Open, as well as the supporting events can be found at http://www.gibraltarchesscongress.com/
Tseitlin,Mark D (2389) - Knudsen,Jes West (1874) [A00]
Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival 2014 The Caleta Hotel - Gibraltar (1.100), 28.01.2014
3 comments:
Did this event used to use accelerated pairings?
I don't think it ever did, but given the propensity for English arbiters (and this is an ECF event) to use them at the British Championship, I cannot rule this out.
Accelerated pairings were used in 2012: http://www.tabladeflandes.com/internacionales_2012/Gibraltar_Chess_Festival_2012.php
And in 2011: http://chess-results.com/tnr43699.aspx?lan=1
So the ending of acceleration seems to be a recent edition.
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