FIDE Grand Prix 2008–10

The FIDE Grand Prix 2008–10 was a series of six chess tournaments that formed part of the qualification for the World Chess Championship 2012. It was administered by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. The event was won by Levon Aronian, with Teimour Radjabov second and Alexander Grischuk third.

The top two finishers here formed two of the eight players who played in the 2011 Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger for the world champion. After Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates, Grischuk took his place, due to his third place in the Grand Prix.

The winner of the Grand Prix was originally scheduled to play a match in 2010 against the winner of the Chess World Cup 2009, with the winner of that match becoming the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2012.[1] On November 25, 2008, FIDE announced major changes, with the winner and runner-up qualifying instead for an eight-player Candidates Tournament. This caused a number of protests, with Magnus Carlsen and Michael Adams withdrawing, and two other players being replaced. (For details, see World Chess Championship 2012.)

A number of host cities withdrew, causing all the tournaments except the first two to be rescheduled.

Format

There were six tournaments spread over 2008, 2009 and 2010. Each of the 21 participating players was originally scheduled to play in exactly four of the six tournaments; though this was complicated when some players withdrew partway through.

Each tournament is a 14 player, single round-robin tournament. In each round players scored 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 for a loss. Grand prix points were then allocated according to each player's standing in the tournament: 180 grand prix points for first place, 150 for second place, 130 for third place, and then 110 down to 10 points for places four to fourteen (decreasing by 10 points for each place). (Grand Prix points were split between players on equal tournament points).

Players only counted their best three tournament results. The player with the most grand prix points was the winner.

If a tie-break was needed for the overall grand prix winner, the system was:[2]

  1. The fourth result not already in the top three performances
  2. The number of actual game points scored in the four tournaments
  3. The number of first place finishes
  4. The number of second place finishes
  5. The number of won games
  6. Drawing of lots

Tournament dates

The tournament dates and locations were as follows:[3]

Draw rules

A variation from normal chess rules was that the players were not allowed to talk to each other during the game and a draw by agreement was not allowed. A draw has to be claimed with the arbiter, who was assisted by an active grandmaster who had the title for at least ten years. The only draws allowed (except for stalemate) were:[9]

Participants

Qualification

Prominent non-participants

Of the original 14 players who qualified, Anand, Kramnik and Topalov (2008/2010 contenders), Shirov (World Cup 2007) and Morozevich (ratings list) were all not taking part. One of the first four nominated reserves, Judit Polgár was also not participating. The lineup for the Grand Prix included 13 of the 20 top-rated Grandmasters at the time it was announced, though none of the top four.[12]

The only one to publicly give a reason was Alexander Morozevich, who announced that he was boycotting the Grand Prix, saying the process was too long, unwieldy and disorganised. He claimed that Anand, Kramnik and Topalov were also boycotting.[13] The Week in Chess reported that Kramnik and Topalov were not participating because the event had insufficient prize money.[14]

Josef Resch of Universal Event Promotion (organizer of 2008 World Championship) also spoke about the difficulties in organizational details with FIDE in the totality of the World Chess Championship cycle.[15]

Original participants

On March 5, 2008, FIDE released the list of participants, along with their world rankings according to the January 2008 ratings list (shown here in brackets).[12][16]

Changes after the second and third tournaments

After Doha and Montreux refused to host tournaments, their nominees Al-Modiahki and Pelletier were removed from the series. Carlsen and Adams withdrew from the Grand Prix. These players were replaced by Evgeny Alekseev, Pavel Eljanov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov (from the rating list) and Vladimir Akopian (Jermuk nominee) from the third tournament onwards.[17]

After Karlovy Vary withdrew in January 2009 (after the third tournament), the Karlovy Vary nominee David Navara was also excluded from the Grand Prix, and was not replaced.

Prize Money

The Regulations indicate the following disbursement of prize monies.[18]

PlaceSingle Grand Prix eventOverall standingsGrand Prix points
1€30,000€75,000180
2€22,500€50,000150
3€20,000€40,000130
4€15,000€30,000110
5€12,500€25,000100
6€11,000€20,00090
7€10,000€18,00080
8€8,500€16,00070
9€7,500€14,00060
10€6,000€12,00050
11€5,50040
12€5,00030
13€4,50020
14€4,00010

For each event there was 162000 euros available (for 14 players), and 300000 euros in the overall standings (top 10).

Events crosstables

Baku, April–May 2008

The first Grand Prix event began on April 20, 2008 and concluded on May 5, 2008 (Elo average 2717, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:[19]

RatingGasWanCarMamGriAdaSviRadKamKarCheNavBacInaTotalGP Points
1–3Gashimov, Vugar2679*½½½1½1½1½½½½½8153⅓
1–3Wang Yue2689½*½½½½1½½11½½½8153⅓
1–3Carlsen, Magnus2765½½*0½1½1½½½½118153⅓
4–5Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar2752½½1*½½½½½10110105
4–5Grischuk, Alexander27160½½½*½½½½½11½1105
6–7Adams, Michael2729½½0½½*1½0011½½85
6–7Svidler, Peter274600½½½0*½11½½½185
8–10Radjabov, Teimour2751½½0½½½½*1½001½660
8–10Kamsky, Gata27260½½½½100*½½½½1660
8–10Karjakin, Sergey2732½0½0½10½½*½½½1660
11–12Cheparinov, Ivan2696½0½100½1½½*00135
11–12Navara, David2672½½½000½1½½1*½035
13–14Bacrot, Etienne2705½½00½½½0½½1½*0515
13–14Inarkiev, Ernesto2684½½010½0½00011*515

Sochi, July–August 2008

The second Grand Prix event began on July 31, 2008 and concluded on August 14, 2008 (Elo average 2708, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:

RatingAroRadWanKamSviJakKarIvaGasGriCheGelNavAlMTotalGP Points
1Aronian, Levon2737*½½½½½½0½11111180
2Radjabov, Teimour2744½*0½0½1½½½11118150
3–4Wang Yue2704½1*½½½½½½½½1½½120
3–4Kamsky, Gata2723½½½*½½½1½½0½11120
5–7Svidler, Peter2738½1½½*1001½0½½1790
5–7Jakovenko, Dmitry2709½½½½0*½½1½1½½½790
5–7Karjakin, Sergey2727½0½½1½*½½01½½1790
8–9Ivanchuk, Vassily27811½½01½½*½½½0½½65
8–9Gashimov, Vugar2717½½½½00½½*½½½1165
10–11Grischuk, Alexander27280½½½½½1½½*0½½½645
10–11Cheparinov, Ivan268700½1100½½1*½½½645
12Gelfand, Boris2720000½½½½1½½½*½½30
13–14Navara, David264600½0½½½½0½½½*0415
13–14Al-Modiahki, Mohamad255600½00½0½0½½½1*415

Elista, December 2008

The third tournament was held in Elista between 14 and 28 December 2008 (Elo average 2713, Cat. XIX).

RatingRadJakGriGasLekBacMamWanKasCheAleEljAkoInaTotalGP Points
1–3Radjabov, Teimour2751*½½½½1½½1½11½08153⅓
1–3Jakovenko, Dmitry2737½*½½½½½11½½½½18153⅓
1–3Grischuk, Alexander2719½½*01½½1½½11½½8153⅓
4Gashimov, Vugar2703½½1*0½1½½½½1½½110
5–9Lékó, Peter2747½½01*0½½½1½½½½80
5–9Bacrot, Etienne27050½½½1*½½½½½½½½80
5–9Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar2731½½½0½½*½½½½1½½80
5–9Wang Yue2736½00½½½½*½1½1½½80
5–9Kasimdzhanov, Rustam267200½½½½½½*10½1180
10Cheparinov, Ivan2696½½½½0½½00*1011650
11–12Alekseev, Evgeny27150½0½½½½½10*01½35
11–12Eljanov, Pavel27200½00½½00½11*½135
13–14Akopian, Vladimir2679½½½½½½½½000½*½515
13–14Inarkiev, Ernesto266910½½½½½½00½0½*515

Nalchik, April 2009

The fourth tournament was held in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria between 14 and 29 April 2009 (Elo average 2725, Cat. XX).

RatingAroLekAkoGriBacAleGelKamKarSviMamIvaKasEljTotalGP points
1Aronian, Levon2754*11½½½½½0½11½1180
2–3Leko, Peter27510*1½½½1½½½½½1½140
2–3Akopian, Vladimir269600*½1½½11½½½½1140
4–5Grischuk, Alexander2748½½½*1110½½001½7105
4–5Bacrot, Etienne2728½½00*1½½1½1½½½7105
6–7Alekseev, Evgeny2716½½½00*½½1½½½½185
6–7Gelfand, Boris2733½0½0½½*½1½1½1085
8–11Kamsky, Gata2720½½01½½½*01½½½0655
8–11Karjakin, Sergey27211½0½0001*1½½½½655
8–11Svidler, Peter2726½½½½½½½00*01½1655
8–11Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar27250½½10½0½½1*½½½655
12–14Ivanchuk, Vassily27460½½1½½½½½0½*0½20
12–14Kasimdzhanov, Rustam2695½0½0½½0½½½½1*½20
12–14Eljanov, Pavel26930½0½½011½0½½½*20

Jermuk, August 2009

The fifth tournament took place in Jermuk, Armenia[20] between 8 and 24 August 2009 (Elo average 2719, Cat. XIX).

The tournament was won by Ivanchuk. Aronian took equal second, sufficient for him to win the Grand Prix.

RatingIvaGelAroAleKasLekKarEljKamBacJakAkoInaCheTotalGP points
1Ivanchuk, Vassily2703*1½1½½½½½½1½½1180
2–3Gelfand, Boris27550*0½11½½½½½1118140
2–3Aronian, Levon2768½1*10½½01½1½1½8140
4–6Alekseev, Evgeny27140½0*½½½11½½11½100
4–6Kasimdzhanov, Rustam2672½01½*½½½½½½½11100
4–6Leko, Peter2756½0½½½*1½½½½½11100
7Karjakin, Sergey2717½½½½½0*½½1½1½½780
8Eljanov, Pavel2716½½10½½½*0½½½½170
9–10Kamsky, Gata2717½½00½½½1*½0½1½655
9–10Bacrot, Etienne2721½½½½½½0½½*1½0½655
11–12Jakovenko, Dimitry2760½½0½½½½½10*½00535
11–12Akopian, Vladimir271200½½½½0½½½½*½½535
13Inarkiev, Ernesto2675½00000½½011½*½20
14Cheparinov, Ivan267800½000½0½½1½½*410

Astrakhan, May 2010

The sixth tournament took place in Astrakhan, Russia between 9 and 25 May 2010 (Elo average 2730, Cat. XX).

RatingEljGasJakMamAleGelPonLekRadWanSviIvaInaAkoTotalGP points
1Eljanov, Pavel2751*½½½0½0111½½118180
2–6Ponomariov, Ruslan2733110½½½*½½½11½½7116
2–6Jakovenko, Dimitry2725½½*½½½1½½½½½½½7116
2–6Radjabov, Teimour27400½½1½½½½*½½½½17116
2–6Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar2763½½½*10½10½½½1½7116
2–6Alekseev, Evgeny27001½½0*½½0½½½½117116
7–9Gashimov, Vugar2734½*½½½½00½½½11½70
7–9Leko, Peter273501½01½½*½½½½½½70
7–9Wang Yue27520½½½½½½½½*½½½170
10–11Svidler, Peter2735½½½½½10½½½*½0½645
10–11Gelfand, Boris2741½½½1½*½½½½0½0½645
12–14Ivanchuk, Vassily2741½0½½½½0½½½½*0020
12–14Akopian, Vladimir26940½½½0½½½00½11*20
12–14Inarkiev, Ernesto266900½001½½½½11*020

Grand Prix standings

Grand Prix points in bold indicate a tournament win. A number in brackets is a player's worst result of four and doesn't add to the total.

Aronian scored enough points to win the Grand Prix before the last event took place.[20] Hence he decided not to play the last tournament of the Grand Prix.[21][22]

PlayerQual.BakuSochiElistaNalchikJermukAstrakhanPlayedBest 3
1 Levon Aronian (ARM)RL1801801403500
2 Teimour Radjabov (AZE)RL(60)150153⅓1164419⅓
3 Alexander Grischuk (RUS)RR105(45)153⅓1054363⅓
4 Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS)HC90153⅓(35)1164359⅓
5 Wang Yue (CHN)PR153⅓12080(70)4353⅓
6 Vugar Gashimov (AZE)HC153⅓(65)110704333⅓
7 Peter Leko (HUN)RL80140100(70)4320
8 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE)RL10580(55)1164301
9 Evgeny Alekseev (RUS)RR(35)851001164301
10 Pavel Eljanov (UKR)RRnot qualified35(20)701804285
11 Boris Gelfand (ISR)RL(30)85140454270
12 Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR)RL6520180(20)4265
13 Étienne Bacrot (FRA)PR(15)80105554240
14 Gata Kamsky (USA)CH6012055(55)4235
15 Sergey Karjakin (UKR)CP6090(55)804230
16 Peter Svidler (RUS)PR859055(45)4230
17 Rustam Kasimdjanov (UZB)RRnot qualified80201003200
18 Vladimir Akopian (ARM)HCnot qualified(15)14035204195
19 Ivan Cheparinov (BUL)PR354550(10)4130
20 Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR)RRnot qualified1161116
21 Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS)HC15(15)2020455
 Magnus Carlsen (NOR)CP153⅓withdrew1
 Michael Adams (ENG)RR85withdrew1
 David Navara (CZE)HC3515excluded2
 Mohamad Al-Modiahki (QAT)HC15excluded1
 Yannick Pelletier (SUI)HCexcluded0

Qual. = Qualification: CH = World Championship, CP = World Cup, RL = rating list, RR = reserve rating list, PR = presidential nominee, HC = host city nominee

Notes: Gata Kamsky was later granted a place in the 2011 Candidates Tournament as runner-up of the 2009 Challenger Match. Boris Gelfand qualified for the Candidates Tournament by winning the Chess World Cup 2009. Magnus Carlsen qualified for the Candidates Tournament by rating (average of July 2009 and January 2010 FIDE rating lists). Later Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates Tournament, and he was replaced by Alexander Grischuk, who took third place in the Grand Prix. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was later granted a place in the Candidates Tournament as organisers' wild card.

Notes

  1. First FIDE Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan, Chessbase, April 19, 2008
  2. Grand Prix Regulations, section 7.2, FIDE web site, accessed May 5, 2008
  3. 1 2 Chess Grand Prix 2008–2009 (updated), Chessdom.com, accessed April 30, 2008
  4. Next Grand Prix Event in Elista – Press Release, FIDE web site, 23 November 2008
  5. "FIDE Grand Prix in Yerevan". FIDE. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  6. "FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk". FIDE.
  7. Grand Prix Karlovy Vary Cancelled, The Week in Chess, 19 January 2009
  8. В следующем году в Астрахани разыграют Гран-при ФИДЕ (in Russian). Website of Alexander Zhilkin. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  9. Grand Prix Regulations, section 4.4, FIDE web site, accessed May 2, 2008
  10. Top 25 Players, (Excel spreadsheet) FIDE web site, accessed April 30, 2008
  11. 1 2 3 FIDE announces its Grand Prix Circuit 2008/09, Chessbase, February 6, 2008
  12. 1 2 FIDE Grand Prix. Participants, host cities, schedule. FIDE press release,, March 5, 2008, with a link to List of participants PDF file
  13. Alexander Morozevich: “I am not giving up the fight!”, Chessbase, February 27, 2008
  14. The Week in Chess 697 March 17, 2008
  15. I am ready to resume negotiations with FIDE (ChessBase, Josef Resch interview]
  16. Participants – Grand Prix, FIDE web site, accessed April 30, 2008
  17. "Grand Prix: Adams also out; Akopian, Alekseev, Eljanov & Kasimdzhanov in". Chessvibes. 11 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  18. FIDE 2008-09 Grand Prix Regulations (archived)
  19. The Week in Chess 704, May 5, 2008
  20. 1 2 Round 13 Report, Jermuk Grand Prix
  21. "FIDE Calendar 2010". FIDE. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  22. "FIDE Grand Prix to take place in Astrakhan". Chessdom. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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