Grand Chess Tour 2018

Last updated
Grand Chess Tour
2018
HikaruNakamura19.jpg
2018 Grand Chess Tour winner Hikaru Nakamura.
Tournament information
Dates10 June–21 December 2019
Host(s) Leuven
Paris
St. Louis
London
Final positions
Champion Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura
Runner-up Flag of France.svg Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
3rd place Flag of the United States.svg Fabiano Caruana
Tournament statistics
Most tournament titles Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura (3)
Prize money leader Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura ($225,000)
Points leader Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura (34.5)
  2017
2019  

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]

Contents

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:

PlacePoints (classical)Points (rapid/blitz)
1st18/20*12/13*
2nd1510
3rd128
4th107
  5th6
  6th65
  7th44
8th33
  9th22
10th11

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 spot being given to Sergey Karjakin. Both Carlsen and Kramnik later played as wildcards.

PlayerCountryRating (January 2018)Eligility criteria
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Flag of France.svg  France 2793Runner-up of 2017 Grand Chess Tour
Levon Aronian Flag of Armenia.svg  Armenia 2797Third place in 2017 Grand Chess Tour
Fabiano Caruana Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2811Average rating
Wesley So Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2792Average rating
Hikaru Nakamura Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2781URS
Alexander Grischuk Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2767URS
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 2804URS
Viswanathan Anand Flag of India.svg  India 2767Wildcard
Sergey Karjakin Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 2753Replacement

Schedule and results

DatesTournamentHost cityWinner
10–17 JuneYour Next Move Rapid and BlitzFlag of Belgium (civil).svg Leuven Flag of the United States.svg Wesley So
17–26 JuneParis Rapid and BlitzFlag of France.svg Paris Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura
9–16 AugustSaint Louis Rapid and BlitzFlag of the United States.svg St. Louis Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura
16–29 August Sinquefield Cup Flag of the United States.svg St. Louis Flag of Norway.svg Magnus Carlsen (WC)
Flag of Armenia.svg Levon Aronian
Flag of the United States.svg Fabiano Caruana
11–17 December London Chess Classic Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Flag of the United States.svg Hikaru Nakamura

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
PlayerRapidBlitzTotalTBTour PointsPrize money
1Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)1482213$37,000
2Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)1011½21½9$22,500
3Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)1110½21½9$22,500
4Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)1011217$15,000
5Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)1120½6$12,500
6Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)817½5$10,000
7Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)98174$7,500
8Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)514½3$7,500
9Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)713½2$7,500
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Anish Giri  (NED)5611WC (1)$7,500
Your Next Move Rapid, June 12–14
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2763Does not appear11212221214
2Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)27951Does not appear1201121211
3Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)277711Does not appear111112211
4Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2813001Does not appear12202210
5Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)27431211Does not appear1201110
6Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)276601101Does not appear12219
7Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)2783011001Does not appear2218
8Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)27530012200Does not appear027
9Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)282211001002Does not appear05
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Anish Giri  (NED)2779000011102Does not appear5
Your Next Move Blitz, June 15–16
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)2816Does not appear½ ½1 0½ 01 1½ ½1 0½ 11 1½ 111½
2Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2878½ ½Does not appear0 01 ½0 11 11 11 1½ 00 111
3Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)28370 11 1Does not appear½ 10 0½ 1½ 0½ ½½ 11 ½10½
4Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)2831½ 10 ½½ 0Does not appear½ 11 0½ 1½ ½1 0½ ½
5Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)28170 01 01 1½ 0Does not appear0 ½½ ½½ ½1 1½ 1
6Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)2809½ ½0 0½ 00 11 ½Does not appear1 ½½ ½1 01 1
7Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)27570 10 0½ 1½ 0½ ½0 ½Does not appear1 1½ ½0 ½8
8Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2856½ 00 0½ ½½ ½½ ½½ ½0 0Does not appear½ 11 18
9Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)28180 0½ 1½ 00 10 00 1½ ½½ 0Does not appear½ ½
10Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Anish Giri  (NED)2799½ 01 00 ½½ ½½ 00 01 ½0 0½ ½Does not appear6

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
PlayerRapidBlitzTotalTBTour PointsPrize money
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)11122313$37,500
2Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)1110½21½10$25,000
3Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)129218$20,000
4Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)911207$15,000
5Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)910½19½6$12,500
6Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)98175$10,000
7Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)79164$7,500
8Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)715½3$7,500
9Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)813½2$7,500
10Flag of Russia.svg  Vladimir Kramnik  (RUS)7613WC (1)$7,500
Paris GCT Rapid, June 20–22
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2763Does not appear11211202212
2Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)27431Does not appear1111122111
3Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)281311Does not appear112211111
4Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2777011Does not appear2112109
5Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)27951110Does not appear102129
6Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)282211011Does not appear11219
7Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)2753010121Does not appear1208
8Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)27662010011Does not appear027
9Flag of Russia.svg  Vladimir Kramnik  (RUS)277500111002Does not appear27
10Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)2783011201200Does not appear7
Paris GCT Blitz, June 23–24
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2878Does not appear½ ½½ ½½ ½½ ½1 ½0 1½ 11 11 112
2Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)2809½ ½Does not appear½ ½0 ½½ ½½ ½½ 11 ½1 1½ 111
3Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2837½ ½½ ½Does not appear1 1½ 0½ ½0 11 ½1 01 ½10½
4Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)2816½ ½1 ½0 0Does not appear1 ½1 ½0 ½1 01 11 ½10½
5Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2856½ ½½ ½½ 10 ½Does not appear0 ½1 ½½ ½½ ½½ ½9
6Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)28310 ½½ ½½ ½0 ½1 ½Does not appear½ ½0 1½ ½1 ½9
7Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)27571 0½ 01 01 ½0 ½½ ½Does not appear½ ½0 10 1
8Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)2817½ 00 ½0 ½0 1½ ½1 0½ ½Does not appear½ ½½ 18
9Flag of Russia.svg  Vladimir Kramnik  (RUS)27930 00 00 10 0½ ½½ ½1 0½ ½Does not appear1 06
10Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)27990 0½ 00 ½0 ½½ ½0 ½1 0½ 00 1Does not appear

Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz

2018 Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz, August 10–16 St. Louis, Missouri, United States
PlayerRapidBlitzTotalTBTour PointsPrize money
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)1210½22½13$37,000
2Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)813½21½10$25,000
3Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)129218$20,000
4Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)119207$15,000
5Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)99186$12,000
6Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)98175$10,000
7Flag of Cuba.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (CUB)9716WC (4)$7,500
8Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)615½3$7,500
9Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)87152$7,500
10Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)613½1$7,500
Saint Louis Rapid, August 11-13
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2812Does not appear12112221012
2Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)27821Does not appear1201221212
3Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)279401Does not appear121211211
4Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)2791101Does not appear1211119
5Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)27851201Does not appear011219
6Flag of Cuba.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (CUB)275401102Does not appear12119
7Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2796000111Does not appear1228
8Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)27940011101Does not appear228
9Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)278211110100Does not appear16
10Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)2771200111001Does not appear6
Saint Louis Blitz, August 15–16
Player Rating 12345678910Points
1Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2878Does not appear½ 1½ 11 11 1½ 01 ½1 ½1 1½ ½13½
2Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)2913½ 0Does not appear½ 11 1½ 10 10 0½ ½1 ½1 ½10½
3Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)2831½ 0½ 0Does not appear½ ½1 ½1 1½ 10 ½1 ½½ 0
4Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)27950 00 0½ ½Does not appear1 10 11 11 ½½ 01 09
5Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)27090 0½ 00 ½0 0Does not appear½ 11 1½ 11 ½1 ½9
6Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)2871½ 11 00 01 0½ 0Does not appear½ 0½ 1½ 1½ 19
7Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)28980 ½1 1½ 00 00 0½ 1Does not appear1 ½½ ½0 18
8Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)28120 ½½ ½1 ½0 ½½ 0½ 00 ½Does not appear½ ½½ 1
9Flag of Cuba.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (CUB)26870 00 ½0 ½½ 10 ½½ 0½ ½½ ½Does not appear1 ½7
10Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2800½ ½0 ½½ 10 10 ½½ 01 0½ 00 ½Does not appear7

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]

6th Sinquefield Cup, 18–28 August 2018, St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category XXII (2787.5)
Player Rating 12345678910PointsH2HWinsBlack TPR Tour Points
1–3Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (NOR)2842½½½½½½½111202861 WC (15)
Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (USA)2822½½½½½½½11120286415
Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (ARM)2767½½½1½½½½1120287015
4Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (AZE)2801½½½Does not appear½½½1½½510282910
5Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (RUS)2766½½0½Does not appear½½½1½11127906
6–7Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (FRA)2779½½½½½Does not appear½½½½10027886
6–7Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (IND)2768½½½½½½Does not appear½½½10027906
8Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (USA)2780½½½0½½½Does not appear½½40027453
9–10Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (USA)277700½½0½½½Does not appear½3½0026641.5
9–10Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (RUS)2773000½½½½½½Does not appear3½0026641.5

Tour finals

In 2018, the London Chess Classic served as the semifinals and finals for the top 4 players from the 2018 Grand Chess Tour.

The players played 2 classical games, 2 rapid games, and 4 blitz games. 6 points were awarded for a win, 3 points for a draw and 0 points for a loss in classical play. In the Rapid games, 4 points were awarded for a win, 2 points for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. In the Blitz games, 2 points were awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 point for a loss.

After seven consecutive draws that opened his final match with Vachier-Lagrave, Nakamura clinched an event victory by defeating Vachier-Lagrave in the fourth and final blitz game.

Semifinals Finals
      
1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (United States)18
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (United States)10
1 Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (United States)15
3 Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (France)13
2 Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (Armenia)10
3 Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (France)18Third place
4 Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (United States)16
2 Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (Armenia)12

Standings

PlayerLeuvenParisSt. LouisSinquefieldTotal
points
POLondonPrize
money
1Flag of the United States.svg  Hikaru Nakamura  (United States)713131.534.51st$225,000
2Flag of France.svg  Maxime Vachier-Lagrave  (France)96106312nd$160,000
3Flag of the United States.svg  Fabiano Caruana  (United States)22715263rd$145,000
4Flag of Armenia.svg  Levon Aronian  (Armenia)67615344th$135,000
5Flag of the United States.svg  Wesley So  (United States)1382326½$80,000
6Flag of Russia.svg  Sergey Karjakin  (Russia)91051.525.5$72,500
7Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Shakhriyar Mamedyarov  (Azerbaijan)4381025$65,000
8Flag of Russia.svg  Alexander Grischuk  (Russia)543618$45,000
9Flag of India.svg  Viswanathan Anand  (India)351615$45,000
Flag of Norway.svg  Magnus Carlsen  (Norway)1515$55,000
Flag of Cuba.svg  Leinier Domínguez  (Cuba)44$7,500
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Anish Giri  (Netherlands)11$7,500
Flag of Russia.svg  Vladimir Kramnik  (Russia)11$7,500

References

  1. "Nakamura Wins 2018 Grand Chess Tour". December 18, 2018.
  2. "New format for Grand Chess Tour 2018". December 10, 2017.
  3. "2018 Grand Chess Tour Participants, Event Dates, and Tour Point Regulations". January 29, 2018.
  4. "2018 Your Next Move".
  5. "Wesley So Wins Your Next Move Grand Chess Tour". June 18, 2018.
  6. "Leuven Grand Chess Tour: Viswanathan Anand's improved show helps him finish fifth; Wesley So wins tournament". Firstpost . June 15, 2018.
  7. "2018 Paris Grand Chess Tour".
  8. "Paris GCT Rapid and Blitz 2018". The Week in Chess . June 19, 2018.
  9. Saravanan, Venkatachalam (28 August 2018). "Sinquefield Cup: Three winners (one playoff)!". ChessBase.