The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is pleased to announce the list of players that have been invited to participate as full tour participants for the 2018 GCT. The 2018 GCT event dates and tour point regulations have also now been finalized and are detailed below.
2018 Tour Participants
A total of 10 players have been offered full tour contracts for the 2018 tour. The 2018 tour invitees were selected in line with the following process:
| Numbers | Selection Methodology | Notes |
|---|
| 1–3 | Final 2017 GCT Tour Standings | The top three finishes from the 2017 Grand Chess Tour |
| 4–6 | Average of FIDE Classical Ratings | Top 3 (not already selected) based on the average of the 12 monthly FIDE classical ratings for the period from 1 February 2017 until 1 January 2018 |
| 7–9 | Universal Rating System | Top 3 (not already selected) based on the Universal Rating List as at 1 January 2018 |
| 10 | GCT Advisory Board Nominee | Selected by the GCT Advisory Board |
The players that have been invited to participate in the 2018 Grand Chess Tour according to the above process are as follows:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – 1st place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
- GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) – 2nd place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
- GM Levon Aronian (ARM) – 3rd place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
- GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 1st Average FIDE Classic Rating
- GM Wesley So (USA) – 2nd Average FIDE Classic Rating
- GM Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) – 3rd Average FIDE Classic Rating
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 1st Universal Rating System
- GM Alexander Grischuk (RUS) – 2nd Universal Rating System
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) – 3rd Universal Rating System
- GM Viswanathan Anand (IND) – GCT Advisory Board Nominee
GM Viswanathan Anand was selected by the GCT Advisory Board after taking account of his status as a former World Champion and as the reigning World Rapid Chess Champion. GM Anand was also ranked 9th per the Average FIDE Classical Ratings and 11th according to the URS™ rating list as at 1 January 2018.
2018 Tour Dates
The dates for the 2018 Grand Chess Tour events will be as follows:
- Your Next Move GCT (Rapid & Blitz)
June 10–17, 2018 | Brussels-Leuven, Belgium
- Paris GCT (Rapid & Blitz)
June 17–26, 2018 | Paris, France
- Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid & Blitz)
August 9–16, 2018 | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Sinquefield Cup (Classical)
August 16–29, 2018 | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
The 2018 London Chess Classic & GCT Tour Finals will take place on dates still to be confirmed during the period between December 10, 2018, and December 21, 2018, in London, UK.
2018 Tour Points Structure
2018 Tour Points will be awarded based on the final rank of each player in the events as set out below. Tour Point allocations for the 2018 Sinquefield Cup have been increased this year to ensure that a suitable balance is maintained between classical chess and rapid and blitz chess.
Another important change is that GCT Tour Points in 2018 shall be shared equally between tied players in all individual events. Tie-breaks will still be played to determine the overall winner of events but will not impact the allocation of GCT Tour Points in 2018.
| Place | Sinquefield Cup | Rapid & Blitz Events
(based on combined standings) |
|---|
| 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 |
*Any player who wins an Event outright (without the need for a playoff) shall earn one extra bonus Tour Point in a Rapid & Blitz event and two extra bonus Tour Points in the Sinquefield Cup.
GCT Chief Arbiter
IA David Sedgwick has been reappointed as the GCT Chief Arbiter for 2018. |
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