FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010

The FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010 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.

FIDE Grand Prix Series 2008–10
FIDE Grand Prix 2008–10 winner Levon Aronian
Tournament information
SportChess
LocationAzerbaijan Baku
Russia Sochi
Russia Elista
Russia Nalchik
Armenia Jermuk
Russia Astrakhan
Dates19 April 2008–
25 May 2010
AdministratorFIDE
Tournament
format(s)
Series of Round-robin tournaments
Final positions
ChampionArmenia Levon Aronian
Runner-upAzerbaijan Teimour Radjabov

The top two finishers here formed two of the eight players who played in the 2012 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]

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1–3 Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan)2679Does not appear½½½1½1½1½½½½½8153⅓
1–3 Wang Yue (China)2689½Does not appear½½½½1½½11½½½8153⅓
1–3 Magnus Carlsen (Norway)2765½½Does not appear0½1½1½½½½118153⅓
4–5 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)2752½½1Does not appear½½½½½10110105
4–5 Alexander Grischuk (Russia)27160½½½Does not appear½½½½½11½1105
6–7 Michael Adams (England)2729½½0½½Does not appear1½0011½½85
6–7 Peter Svidler (Russia)274600½½½0Does not appear½11½½½185
8–10 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)2751½½0½½½½Does not appear1½001½660
8–10 Gata Kamsky (United States)27260½½½½100Does not appear½½½½1660
8–10 Sergey Karjakin (Russia)2732½0½0½10½½Does not appear½½½1660
11–12 Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria)2696½0½100½1½½Does not appear00135
11–12 David Navara (Czech Republic)2672½½½000½1½½1Does not appear½035
13–14 Étienne Bacrot (France)2705½½00½½½0½½1½Does not appear0515
13–14 Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia)2684½½010½0½00011Does not appear515

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:

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1 Levon Aronian (Armenia)2737Does not appear½½½½½½0½11111180
2 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)2744½Does not appear0½0½1½½½11118150
3–4 Wang Yue (China)2704½1Does not appear½½½½½½½½1½½120
3–4 Gata Kamsky (United States)2723½½½Does not appear½½½1½½0½11120
5–7 Peter Svidler (Russia)2738½1½½Does not appear1001½0½½1790
5–7 Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia)2709½½½½0Does not appear½½1½1½½½790
5–7 Sergey Karjakin (Russia)2727½0½½1½Does not appear½½01½½1790
8–9 Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine)27811½½01½½Does not appear½½½0½½65
8–9 Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan)2717½½½½00½½Does not appear½½½1165
10–11 Alexander Grischuk (Russia)27280½½½½½1½½Does not appear0½½½645
10–11 Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria)268700½1100½½1Does not appear½½½645
12 Boris Gelfand (Israel)2720000½½½½1½½½Does not appear½½30
13–14 David Navara (Czech Republic)264600½0½½½½0½½½Does not appear0415
13–14 Mohammed Al-Modiahki (Qatar)255600½00½0½0½½½1Does not appear415

Elista, December 2008

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

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1–3 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2751Does not appear½½½½1½½1½11½08153⅓
1–3 Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia)2737½Does not appear½½½½½11½½½½18153⅓
1–3 Alexander Grischuk (Russia)2719½½Does not appear01½½1½½11½½8153⅓
4 Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan)2703½½1Does not appear0½1½½½½1½½110
5–9 Peter Leko (Hungary)2747½½01Does not appear0½½½1½½½½80
5–9 Étienne Bacrot (France)27050½½½1Does not appear½½½½½½½½80
5–9 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)2731½½½0½½Does not appear½½½½1½½80
5–9 Wang Yue (China)2736½00½½½½Does not appear½1½1½½80
5–9 Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan)267200½½½½½½Does not appear10½1180
10 Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria)2696½½½½0½½00Does not appear1011650
11–12 Evgeny Alekseev (Russia)27150½0½½½½½10Does not appear01½35
11–12 Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)27200½00½½00½11Does not appear½135
13–14 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia)2679½½½½½½½½000½Does not appear½515
13–14 Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia)266910½½½½½½00½0½Does not appear515

Nalchik, April 2009

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

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1 Levon Aronian (Armenia)2754Does not appear11½½½½½0½11½1180
2–3 Peter Leko (Hungary)27510Does not appear1½½½1½½½½½1½140
2–3 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia)269600Does not appear½1½½11½½½½1140
4–5 Alexander Grischuk (Russia)2748½½½Does not appear1110½½001½7105
4–5 Étienne Bacrot (France)2728½½00Does not appear1½½1½1½½½7105
6–7 Evgeny Alekseev (Russia)2716½½½00Does not appear½½1½½½½185
6–7 Boris Gelfand (Israel)2733½0½0½½Does not appear½1½1½1085
8–11 Gata Kamsky (United States)2720½½01½½½Does not appear01½½½0655
8–11 Sergey Karjakin (Russia)27211½0½0001Does not appear1½½½½655
8–11 Peter Svidler (Russia)2726½½½½½½½00Does not appear01½1655
8–11 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)27250½½10½0½½1Does not appear½½½655
12–14 Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine)27460½½1½½½½½0½Does not appear0½20
12–14 Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan)2695½0½0½½0½½½½1Does not appear½20
12–14 Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)26930½0½½011½0½½½Does not appear20

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.

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1 Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine)2703Does not appear1½1½½½½½½1½½1180
2–3 Boris Gelfand (Israel)27550Does not appear0½11½½½½½1118140
2–3 Levon Aronian (Armenia)2768½1Does not appear10½½01½1½1½8140
4–6 Evgeny Alekseev (Russia)27140½0Does not appear½½½11½½11½100
4–6 Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan)2672½01½Does not appear½½½½½½½11100
4–6 Peter Leko (Hungary)2756½0½½½Does not appear1½½½½½11100
7 Sergey Karjakin (Russia)2717½½½½½0Does not appear½½1½1½½780
8 Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)2716½½10½½½Does not appear0½½½½170
9–10 Gata Kamsky (United States)2717½½00½½½1Does not appear½0½1½655
9–10 Étienne Bacrot (France)2721½½½½½½0½½Does not appear1½0½655
11–12 Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia)2760½½0½½½½½10Does not appear½00535
11–12 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia)271200½½½½0½½½½Does not appear½½535
13 Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia)2675½00000½½011½Does not appear½20
14 Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria)267800½000½0½½1½½Does not appear410

Astrakhan, May 2010

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

PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
1 Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)2751Does not appear½½½0½0111½½118180
2–6 Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine)2733110½½½Does not appear½½½11½½7116
2–6 Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia)2725½½Does not appear½½½1½½½½½½½7116
2–6 Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan)27400½½1½½½½Does not appear½½½½17116
2–6 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan)2763½½½Does not appear10½10½½½1½7116
2–6 Evgeny Alekseev (Russia)27001½½0Does not appear½½0½½½½117116
7–9 Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan)2734½Does not appear½½½½00½½½11½70
7–9 Peter Leko (Hungary)273501½01½½Does not appear½½½½½½70
7–9 Wang Yue (China)27520½½½½½½½½Does not appear½½½170
10–11 Peter Svidler (Russia)2735½½½½½10½½½Does not appear½0½645
10–11 Boris Gelfand (Israel)2741½½½1½Does not appear½½½½0½0½645
12–14 Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine)2741½0½½½½0½½½½Does not appear0020
12–14 Vladimir Akopian (Armenia)26940½½½0½½½00½11Does not appear20
12–14 Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia)266900½001½½½½11Does not appear020

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 Vasyl 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 2012 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. 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. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. 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. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. 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. FIDE announces its Grand Prix Circuit 2008/09, Chessbase, February 6, 2008
  12. 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. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  18. FIDE 2008-09 Grand Prix Regulations (archived)
  19. The Week in Chess 704, May 5, 2008
  20. 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. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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