Gibraltar Chess Festival
Gibraltar: The strategic 2.2 square miles
of limestone rock at the mouth of the Mediterranean was captured by
forces of Admiral Sir George Rooke after a three
day assault during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704. Gibraltar
was ceded to Britain, for ever by the Treaty
of Utrecht in 1713. The treaty was signed for Britain by the diplomat
and bishop John
Robinson.
How
appropriate that an Admiral Rooke and a Bishop should be principal
players in a location which has quickly become a major port of call
on the international chess circuit.