JustinHorton wrote:So have these "notable experts" been beavering away in secret, on Dr No's island or something?
Probably.
Are there only going to be six players in the Grand Chess Tour next year?
Those who qualified are: So, Nakamura, Caruana, Carlsen, Kramnik and Vachier-Lagrave.
Good prospects for exciting chess?
Maybe each event will still have wildcards as well?
http://grandchesstour.org/join-tour
GCT wrote:"We are already working on adding additional tournaments to the 2017 tour roster and we would be happy to hold discussions with potential event organisers or sponsors who are interested in bringing a Grand Chess Tour tournament to their own country in 2017. In particular, we are now actively looking for partners in Africa, South America and Asia in order to ensure that the tour is truly global in the future."
http://grandchesstour.org/press-release ... ifth-event
(This one dates from 11 December, as stated in the pdf document, though the web page carelessly leaves out the press release date.)
GCT wrote:"A total of nine players will be selected as full 2017 Grand Chess Tour participants. Three spots will be awarded to the top finishers in the 2016 GCT, another three to the top players by average 2016 rating and the final three shall be determined by the GCT as tour wildcards. Players are required to participate in both classic events and two of the three rapid and blitz events. [...] The GCT further expands its scope by including 14 event wildcard positions in 2017. These coveted invitations allow up to 14 additional players to vie for a share of the $1.2 million in prizes."
It is a bit confusing, but you have three "tour wildcards" and 14 "event wildcards". The table sort of explains it. I am sure things will come out in the wash after the tour organisers have got the players to sign on the dotted lines (or not, as the case may be).
The logical next step would be a Grand Chess Tour rapid event in London...