SIMULTANEOUS CHESS
EXHIBITION
on Sunday 11th December 2005
from 9.30 am onwards
at the Cultural Performance Hall
of the
Sliema Philharmonic Society
organised in collaboration
with the
MALTA CHESS FEDERATION
Colin Pace, Malta Chess Champion 2003, was the guest of honour at the luxurious Cultural Performance Hall of the Societa' Filarmonica Sliema at 34 St.Trophimus street, playing in a Simultaneous Chess Exhibition against a field of twelve players. The activity was organised with the collaboration of the Malta Chess Federation.
The players taking part were selected from the final classification of the Junior Chess Championship 2005 with Glenn Fenech, current U/16 Champion, on board 1, Christopher Farrugia on board 2, and the rest of the boards up to board twelve manned by Omar Shamala, Luke Saliba (U/14 Champion), Daniel Saliba, Christopher Attard, Andre' Xuereb and Grant Camilleri, from the U/14 category; the U/12 Champion Luke Buhagiar followed by Daryl Agius, Rita Saliba and finally the U/10 Champion Rubi Mercieca.
Colin Pace had two hours to finish off all the games.
Pace took this friendly challenge seriously and played solidly and swiftly making good use of his superior experience in the openings, stopping only ocassionally to double check his next move. Through some interesting tactics Pace was soon a piece up against four boards although in the process he did lose the exchange (rook to knight) against Luke Saliba. This game became the centre of attraction for the small crowd that gathered to watch the event. As the time ticked away Pace managed to transform the position slowly into a win thanks to the advancing connected passed pawns which Luke Saliba found irresistible. Eventually the c-pawn Queened and the game was practically over.
Daniel Saliba, on board five, had some good chances of securing a draw in an end-game of bishop versus knight with a pawn down. The superiority of the top player in such complicated positions, however, made all the diffence and the black King soon found his way back into the wooden box.
At the end of the allocated time the tally was twelve straight wins for the ex-Champion. This is a prestigious result for Colin Pace and certainly a good lesson in opening theory and basic tactics for the younger generation of chess players.
The activity was very well received by everyone involved. Cav. Dott.Tonio Portughese, President of the Societa' Filarmonica Sliema, thanked everyone and presented Mr.C.Pace with a commemorative token. He also proposed that this activity becomes an annual event in the calendar of the Cultural Performance Hall. Mr.G.D.Borg, President of the Malta Chess Federation, expressed his satisfaction for the high class facility offered and said that the MCF will not miss the opportunity to hold other Chess activities at this locale.
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