Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm. — Photo nld.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Grandmaster Lê Quang Liêm will compete with arch rivals at the Gibraltar International Chess Festival.

The strongest and best-organised event of its kind in the world will attract the participation of nearly 500 players from more than 50 countries in various categories (masters, challengers and amateurs).

HCM City-born Liêm will compete in the masters category.

Among the stars coming to the event are joint top seeds Maxine Vachier-Lagrave of France, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azebaijan, Wang Hao of China, Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov of Bulgaria as well as legends like British Michael Adams and Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk. 

The 10-round Swiss event will offer a top prize of 30,000 pounds (US$39,000) for the winner of the masters division.

The event has been voted the best open tournament for a number of years, being held at the idyllic location of the Caleta Hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea until January 31. — VNS