Gibraltar Masters
Important: do not book travel or accommodation or pay entry fees until your entry has been confirmed by the Festival Organisers.
A ten-round Open tournament, featuring super-elite and highly rated professionals in action, alongside a large number of titled players, as well as amateurs of all strengths. A high proportion of the world's best female players will be taking part. In addition, many top-ranked juniors will play. The Masters is expected to include players from some sixty federations.
RATE OF PLAY:
40 moves in 100 minutes plus 20 moves in 50 minutes plus 15 minutes for all remaining moves with 30 seconds per move added from the start.
The first prize may not be shared.
In the event of a tie for first place, there shall be a play-off. If there are four or fewer players tied for first place, there will be a speed knock-out play-off for the first prize of £30,000.
If three players tie for first place, the player with the highest performance rating will be seeded directly into the Final of the Play-Off; the other two players will contest the Semi-Final.
If more than four players tie for first place, the four players with the highest performance ratings shall qualify for the play-off to decide the first prize.
All other prizes shall be shared where players have the same score (except the Women’s First Prize).
WOMEN’S AWARDS:
If there is a tie for the top women’s prize, the tie is resolved in favour of the woman with the highest performance rating, who will receive the prize of £20,000. All other prizes will not be subject to a tiebreak and prize money other than the first prize will be divided equally amongst the players.
Masters Regulations: Important!
Draws by mutual agreement in fewer than 30 moves are not allowed. There must be no pre-arranged or tacit agreements to draw games of any length, by repetition or otherwise.
Warning: penalties may involve loss of prize money
BYES:
Players who wish to take up to two half-point byes in rounds 1-7 of the Masters may do so, provided they give adequate notice, but the second requested bye makes a player ineligible for a prize. No player may request a bye in the last three rounds.
The Opening Ceremony and drawing of lots will take place at 20.30hrs on Monday 20 January 2020 in the main restaurant.
Please note that Round 10 starts at 11.00hrs on the final day (not at 15.00hrs as with rounds 1-9).
Additional Information
All Masters' rounds begin at 3pm (except the last round, which begins at 11am). Spectators are welcome, but please do not take mobile phones into the playing areas - there is a dedicated cloakroom area for their safe deposit and collection on the first floor.
On-site live commentaries on the leading Masters' games will take place hosted by GM David Howell and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni and also available via the event's official YouTube channel.