It's a checkmate for Bay
Motherwell Sun reporter
MORE than 900 chess players from around the world descended on Port Elizabeth for what was officially the biggest ever Commonwealth Open Chess Championship.
Players from 29 countries competed against each other at The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World from July 5 to July 14 for the R300000 prize-money.
The overall winner's trophy and gold medal was presented to Abhijit Gupta from India by guest of honour, President Jacob Zuma.
Second and third places overall were awarded to Ukraine's Sergii Fedorchuk and Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands.
The tournament ended with Zuma taking on the youngest competitor Keagan Rowe, 5, from East London.
The game ended in a tie with Zuma joking that he wanted to "balance the game" so he sacrificed some pieces.
More than 25 chess grand masters from around the world participated.
Last year's Commonwealth Open Chess Championship held in India attracted players from nine countries.
"This proves the easy accessibility and attractiveness of Port Elizabeth as a venue for international events and conferences," Boardwalk general manager Clifford Ngakane said.
The South African Open Chess Championship 2013, the Nelson Mandela Bay Open Chess Championship and the South African Open Blitz Chess Championship were played in Port Elizabeth at the same time.
The 2013 Commonwealth Chess Championship was not only completely sold out, it was also the biggest open chess tournament to be held on the African continent, Ngakane said.
Retired world champion Garry Kasparov arrived in Port Elizabeth on July 12 to watch the finals and to further the Kasparov Chess Foundation in South Africa.
"Bringing the Kasparov Foundation, which works with schools around the world to promote the study of chess as a learning tool to South Africa will be one of the long-lasting benefits of hosting the Commonwealth Chess Championship in the country," convener of the event Dr Brian van Zyl said.
Ngakane said: "The long-term educational spin-offs from the tournament were one of the main reasons for sponsoring the event and bringing it to Port Elizabeth."