Chess tournaments circuit
The Grand Chess Tour 2018 was a circuit of
chess tournaments, held from June to December 2018. It was the fourth edition of
Grand Chess Tour. The series consisted of four events, including 1
classical and 3
fast chess tournaments, as well as Tour Final in
London. It was won by
Hikaru Nakamura.
[1]
Format
The tour consisted of four events, including three rapid and blitz and one classical event, and concluded in Tour Finals in London, where four top scorers qualified.
[2] Each event consisted of 9 regular tour participants and 1
wildcard. Scoring system looked as follows:
Place |
Points (classical) |
Points (rapid/blitz)
|
1st |
18/20* |
12/13*
|
2nd |
15 |
10
|
3rd |
12 |
8
|
4th |
10 |
7
|
5th |
8 |
6
|
6th |
6 |
5
|
7th |
4 |
4
|
8th |
3 |
3
|
9th |
2 |
2
|
10th |
1 |
1
|
Lineup
The field was announced on January 29, 2018.
[3] The lineup was selected based on several criteria, including top three finish in previous edition,
URS, average
FIDE rating from February 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018, and personal invitation by GCT Advisory Board. Initially, it consisted of ten players, including reigning
World Chess Champion
Magnus Carlsen and his predecessors –
Viswanathan Anand and
Vladimir Kramnik. However, Carlsen and Kramnik declined the invitations, with number of players reducing to nine and last sport being given to
Sergey Karjakin. Both Carlsen and Kramnik later played as wildcards.
Schedule and results
Tournaments
Your Next Move Rapid and Blitz
First leg of 2018 Grand Chess Tour took place on June 12–16 in Leuven City Hall,
Leuven,
Belgium. The wildcard for the event was Dutch Grandmaster
Anish Giri, who ultimately finished on last place. The tournament was won by
Wesley So.
[4]
[5]
[6]
2018 Your Next Move, June 12–16
Leuven,
Belgium
|
Player |
Rapid |
Blitz |
Total |
TB |
Tour Points |
Prize money
|
1 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
14 |
8 |
22 |
|
13 |
$37,000
|
2 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
10 |
11½ |
21½ |
|
9 |
$22,500
|
3 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
11 |
10½ |
21½ |
|
9 |
$22,500
|
4 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
10 |
11 |
21 |
|
7 |
$15,000
|
5 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
11 |
9½ |
20½ |
|
6 |
$12,500
|
6 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
8 |
9½ |
17½ |
|
5 |
$10,000
|
7 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
9 |
8 |
17 |
|
4 |
$7,500
|
8 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
5 |
9½ |
14½ |
|
3 |
$7,500
|
9 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
7 |
6½ |
13½ |
|
2 |
$7,500
|
10 |
Anish Giri (
NED) |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
WC (1) |
$7,500
|
Your Next Move Blitz, June 15–16
|
Player |
Rating |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Points
|
1 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
2816 |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
½ 0 |
1 1 |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
11½
|
2 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
2878 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
0 0 |
1 ½ |
0 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
½ 0 |
0 1 |
11
|
3 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
2837 |
0 1 |
1 1 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
0 0 |
½ 1 |
½ 0 |
½ ½ |
½ 1 |
1 ½ |
10½
|
4 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
2831 |
½ 1 |
0 ½ |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
1 0 |
½ 1 |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
½ ½ |
9½
|
5 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
2817 |
0 0 |
1 0 |
1 1 |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
9½
|
6 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
2809 |
½ ½ |
0 0 |
½ 0 |
0 1 |
1 ½ |
Does not appear |
1 ½ |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
1 1 |
9½
|
7 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
2757 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
½ 1 |
½ 0 |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
Does not appear |
1 1 |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
8
|
8 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
2856 |
½ 0 |
0 0 |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
0 0 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
8
|
9 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
2818 |
0 0 |
½ 1 |
½ 0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
½ ½ |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
6½
|
10 |
Anish Giri (
NED) |
2799 |
½ 0 |
1 0 |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
½ 0 |
0 0 |
1 ½ |
0 0 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
6
|
Paris Rapid and Blitz
Paris Grand Chess Tour took place on June 20–24 in
Paris,
France and was second event of 2018 Grand Chess Tour. Former world champion
Vladimir Kramnik played as wildcard. The event was won by
Hikaru Nakamura.
[7]
[8]
2018 Paris GCT, June 20–24
Paris,
France
|
Player |
Rapid |
Blitz |
Total |
TB |
Tour Points |
Prize money
|
1 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
11 |
12 |
23 |
|
13 |
$37,500
|
2 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
11 |
10½ |
21½ |
|
10 |
$25,000
|
3 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
12 |
9 |
21 |
|
8 |
$20,000
|
4 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
9 |
11 |
20 |
|
7 |
$15,000
|
5 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
9 |
10½ |
19½ |
|
6 |
$12,500
|
6 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
9 |
8 |
17 |
|
5 |
$10,000
|
7 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
7 |
9 |
16 |
|
4 |
$7,500
|
8 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
7 |
8½ |
15½ |
|
3 |
$7,500
|
9 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
8 |
5½ |
13½ |
|
2 |
$7,500
|
10 |
Vladimir Kramnik (
RUS) |
7 |
6 |
13 |
|
WC (1) |
$7,500
|
Paris GCT Blitz, June 23–24
|
Player |
Rating |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Points
|
1 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
2878 |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
0 1 |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
12
|
2 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
2809 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ 1 |
1 ½ |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
11
|
3 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
2837 |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
1 1 |
½ 0 |
½ ½ |
0 1 |
1 ½ |
1 0 |
1 ½ |
10½
|
4 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
2816 |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
0 0 |
Does not appear |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
0 ½ |
1 0 |
1 1 |
1 ½ |
10½
|
5 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
2856 |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ 1 |
0 ½ |
Does not appear |
0 ½ |
1 ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
9
|
6 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
2831 |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
1 ½ |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
0 1 |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
9
|
7 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
2757 |
1 0 |
½ 0 |
1 0 |
1 ½ |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
0 1 |
0 1 |
8½
|
8 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
2817 |
½ 0 |
0 ½ |
0 ½ |
0 1 |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
½ 1 |
8
|
9 |
Vladimir Kramnik (
RUS) |
2793 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
1 0 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
1 0 |
6
|
10 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
2799 |
0 0 |
½ 0 |
0 ½ |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
1 0 |
½ 0 |
0 1 |
Does not appear |
5½
|
Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz
2018 Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz, August 10–16
St. Louis,
Missouri,
United States
|
Player |
Rapid |
Blitz |
Total |
TB |
Tour Points |
Prize money
|
1 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
12 |
10½ |
22½ |
|
13 |
$37,000
|
2 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
8 |
13½ |
21½ |
|
10 |
$25,000
|
3 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
12 |
9 |
21 |
|
8 |
$20,000
|
4 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
11 |
9 |
20 |
|
7 |
$15,000
|
5 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
9 |
9 |
18 |
|
6 |
$12,000
|
6 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
9 |
8 |
17 |
|
5 |
$10,000
|
7 |
Leinier Domínguez (
CUB) |
9 |
7 |
16 |
|
WC (4) |
$7,500
|
8 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
6 |
9½ |
15½ |
|
3 |
$7,500
|
9 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
8 |
7 |
15 |
|
2 |
$7,500
|
10 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
6 |
7½ |
13½ |
|
1 |
$7,500
|
Saint Louis Blitz, August 15–16
|
Player |
Rating |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
Points
|
1 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
FRA) |
2878 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
1 1 |
½ 0 |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
1 1 |
½ ½ |
13½
|
2 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
USA) |
2913 |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
0 1 |
0 0 |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
10½
|
3 |
Alexander Grischuk (
RUS) |
2831 |
½ 0 |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
0 ½ |
1 ½ |
½ 0 |
9½
|
4 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
AZE) |
2795 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
1 1 |
0 1 |
1 1 |
1 ½ |
½ 0 |
1 0 |
9
|
5 |
Fabiano Caruana (
USA) |
2709 |
0 0 |
½ 0 |
0 ½ |
0 0 |
Does not appear |
½ 1 |
1 1 |
½ 1 |
1 ½ |
1 ½ |
9
|
6 |
Levon Aronian (
ARM) |
2871 |
½ 1 |
1 0 |
0 0 |
1 0 |
½ 0 |
Does not appear |
½ 0 |
½ 1 |
½ 1 |
½ 1 |
9
|
7 |
Sergey Karjakin (
RUS) |
2898 |
0 ½ |
1 1 |
½ 0 |
0 0 |
0 0 |
½ 1 |
Does not appear |
1 ½ |
½ ½ |
0 1 |
8
|
8 |
Viswanathan Anand (
IND) |
2812 |
0 ½ |
½ ½ |
1 ½ |
0 ½ |
½ 0 |
½ 0 |
0 ½ |
Does not appear |
½ ½ |
½ 1 |
7½
|
9 |
Leinier Domínguez (
CUB) |
2687 |
0 0 |
0 ½ |
0 ½ |
½ 1 |
0 ½ |
½ 0 |
½ ½ |
½ ½ |
Does not appear |
1 ½ |
7
|
10 |
Wesley So (
USA) |
2800 |
½ ½ |
0 ½ |
½ 1 |
0 1 |
0 ½ |
½ 0 |
1 0 |
½ 0 |
0 ½ |
Does not appear |
7
|
Sinquefield Cup
The Sinquefield Cup in
St. Louis,
Missouri,
United States was the last leg of 2018 Grand Chess Tour before the tour finals.
Magnus Carlsen,
Levon Aronian and
Fabiano Caruana all shared first place by scoring 5½ out of 9.
[9]
Tour finals
Tour rankings
|
Player
|
Leuven
|
Paris
|
St. Louis
|
Sinquefield
|
Total points
|
PO
|
London
|
Prize money
|
1 |
Hikaru Nakamura (
United States) |
7 |
13 |
13 |
1.5 |
34.5 |
— |
1st |
$225,000
|
2 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (
France) |
9 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
31 |
— |
2nd |
$160,000
|
3 |
Fabiano Caruana (
United States) |
2 |
2 |
7 |
15 |
26 |
1½ |
3rd |
$145,000
|
4 |
Levon Aronian (
Armenia) |
6 |
7 |
6 |
15 |
34 |
— |
4th |
$135,000
|
5 |
Wesley So (
United States) |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
26 |
½ |
— |
$80,000
|
6 |
Sergey Karjakin (
Russia) |
9 |
10 |
5 |
1.5 |
25.5 |
— |
— |
$72,500
|
7 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (
Azerbaijan) |
4 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
25 |
— |
— |
$65,000
|
8 |
Alexander Grischuk (
Russia) |
5 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
18 |
— |
— |
$45,000
|
9 |
Viswanathan Anand (
India) |
3 |
5 |
1 |
6 |
15 |
— |
— |
$45,000
|
|
Magnus Carlsen (
Norway) |
— |
— |
— |
15 |
15 |
— |
— |
$55,000
|
|
Leinier Domínguez (
Cuba) |
— |
— |
4 |
— |
4 |
— |
— |
$7,500
|
|
Anish Giri (
Netherlands) |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
$7,500
|
|
Vladimir Kramnik (
Russia) |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
$7,500
|
References