EU INDIVIDUAL OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT IN LIVERPOOL

Early day motion 2787, tabled 17 October 2006 by Angela Eagle (Labour). Signed by 75 members.

That this House welcomes the recent outstanding success of the International Chess Tournament held in Liverpool between 6th and 15th September, noting that this was the first international chess tournament held in the UK since 1986 and the first in Liverpool since 1923; recognises the sponsors including Liverpool John Moores University, the Mersey Partnership, the World Museum and the Liverpool Culture Company for their support for the event; believes that this was a major boost to Liverpool's reputation not least because it received massive internet exposure by the live transmission of the matches on the tournament website which was visited by 8.6 million people from 104 different countries, 1.25 million people logged on to the live transmission on the final day, 76 per cent. of whom stayed online for an hour or more; and congratulates British Grandmaster Nigel Short on winning the tournament in a strong field of international players as well as recognising the Grandmaster norms achieved by two young British players.

Signatures by party: Labour 62, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 4, DUP 2, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.