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Press
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Malcolm Pein announces a new edition of the London Chess
Classic
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Tournament Director
Malcolm Pein
photo © John
Saunders |
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- 05 Jun 2010 |
IM Malcolm Pein announces a new
edition of the London Chess Classic where he is
tournament director. Viswanathan Anand strengthens the
field from last year.
I am delighted to announce that the
2nd London Chess Classic will be held at the Olympia
Conference Centre from December 8th to 15th. I have
managed to put together an even more illustrious field
than last year for what will indisputably be the
strongest chess tournament ever held on these shores.
Seven of the eight players from last year will return
but Ni Hua of China will be replaced by Vishy Anand who
will become the first reigning world chess champion to
play a major tournament in London since Anatoly Karpov
in 1984.
The prize fund has also been
increased from €120,000 to €145,000 with 1st prize being
worth €50,000.
Anand, who will turn 41 during the
tournament, recently retained his world title by
defeating Veselin Topalov in the latter's home city of
Sofia. In London he will meet his immediate predecessor
as champion, Vladimir Kramnik, 36, of Russia, and also
the world number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway, 19, who
is widely tipped to be Anand's next challenger.
Spectators will be privileged to witness a clash of the
past, present and likely future chess champions.
Five more players make up the field
of eight, all of whom played last year and earned their
place for fighting play. The fourth non-British player
is Hikaru Nakamura, ranked 19th in the world. The 23
year old American is known as the 'H-Bomb' for his
explosive and totally uncompromising style of play. He
has won the US Championship twice and also won major
events in San Sebastián and Gibraltar in the past
couple of years.
England's finest will return and I
hope they will be able to challenge the stars as
successfully as last year. Michael Adams, 39, from
Cornwall, has recently wrested back his position as
England number one and was the winner of the 2010
prestigious Gibraltar International. Nigel Short at 45
remains a fearsome opponent and last year delighted the
spectators with his post-game commentary. Luke McShane,
26, is back to playing chess full time and last year's
tournament gave his return to the game a great boost.
David Howell, 20 in November, had a sensational elite
tournament debut at the Classic last year when he
finished third behind Carlsen and Kramnik and like Adams
went through his seven games unbeaten.
Tournament Line-Up
|
Name |
Title |
Country |
Rating
(May 2010) |
World Rnk
May |
Date of Birth |
|
Carlsen, Magnus |
grandmaster |
NOR |
2813 |
1 |
30.11.1990 |
|
Kramnik, Vladimir |
ex-world champion |
RUS |
2790 |
3 |
25.06.1975 |
|
Anand, Viswanathan |
world champion |
IND |
2789 |
4 |
11.12.1969 |
|
Nakamura, Hikaru |
grandmaster |
USA |
2733 |
19 |
09.12.1987 |
|
Adams, Michael |
grandmaster |
ENG |
2697 |
41 |
17.11.1971 |
|
Short, Nigel |
grandmaster |
ENG |
2685 |
48 |
01.06.1965 |
|
McShane, Luke |
grandmaster |
ENG |
2623 |
138 |
07.01.1984 |
|
Howell, David |
grandmaster |
ENG |
2620 |
144 |
14.11.1990 |
Tickets will go on sale in July.
For further information please call:
Malcolm Pein, Tournament Director,
London Chess Classic
T: 020 7388 2404
E:
info@chess.co.uk
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