FIDE Grand Swiss 2019 (Candidates qualifier)

[IM Jack Rudd]

Well, if the winner is already a Candidate, you pass the baton on to the runner-up, and so on. That's the same as the principle already was for these things: if one of the World Cup finalists also finished in the top two in the Grand Prix, one of the Grand Prix places went to the person who finished third in it, and so on.

[Roger de Coverly]

Well, if the winner is already a Candidate, you pass the baton on to the runner-up, and so on.

Like the World Cup, Carlsen might also show up unless specifically excluded. It remains to be seen if there will actually be a Grand Prix for the next cycle as firm announcements have yet to be made. So there may potentially be more than one place in this new initiative.

[J T Melsom]

I know that it can be made to work, but the question was really whether the approach of having a candidates place awarded by a Swiss was better than the current arrangements. If the person isn't actually the winner of the Swiss then the further down the table, the less deserving. Multiple qualifying routes can be a good thing, but they can also lead to confusion. Ryder Cup qualification is from memory an example of such confusion.

[Reg Clucas]

What is vital is that there must be a properly devised playoff system, with at least a full day set aside for it. Two would be better.

Looks like there won't be. The regulations state-

If the top two (2) or more players score the same points, the tie is to be decided by the following criteria, in order of priority:
a) Tournament performance rating - TPR
b) Median Buchholz (cut 1)
c) Buchholz
d) Rapid play-off. The format is decided by the Chief Arbiter.

[NickFaulks]

Looks like there won't be. The regulations state

Yes, those regulations are truly awful.

[Alex Holowczak]

Looks like there won't be. The regulations state

Yes, those regulations are truly awful.

While not commenting on their merits, it is interesting that:
- The tie-breaks are the same as they were for the World Rapid & Blitz; except that in the case where there was a tie for 1st place, the top 2 players in using the tie-breaks would playoff for the title, with no money at stake. The tie-breaks for everyone else were meaningless, because...
- ... Players on an equal score share the prize money. Again, it is what was used in the World Rapid & Blitz.

[David Sedgwick]

Yes, those regulations are truly awful.

While not commenting on their merits, it is interesting that:
- The tie-breaks are the same as they were for the World Rapid & Blitz; except that in the case where there was a tie for 1st place, the top 2 players in using the tie-breaks would playoff for the title, with no money at stake. The tie-breaks for everyone else were meaningless, because...
- ... Players on an equal score share the prize money. Again, it is what was used in the World Rapid & Blitz.

FIDE has used similar tiebreaks in the Candidates Tournament since the present format was introduced in 2013. Most recently, for the Berlin Candidates Tournament 2018:

Tiebreaks:

If the top two or more players score the same points, the tie will be decided by the following criteria, in order of priority:
a) The results of the games between the players involved in the tie.

If they are still tied:
b) The total number of wins in the tournament of every player involved in the tie.

If they are still tied:
c) Sonneborn - Berger System.

If there is no clear winner with the above 3 criteria, there will be a special competition between the players who still remain
tied after using the 3rd criteria (Sonneborn - Berger): after a new drawing of colors, each tied player will play two (2) tie-break games
with the other tied opponent(s). The games shall be played using the electronic clock starting with 25 minutes for each player with an
increment of 10 seconds after each move.

There has been, and there remains, a fair amount of controversy and discussion about the Tiebreak Regulations for Grand Chess Tour events.

Suffice it to say that the members of the GCT Advisory Board know all too well how I would react if they were to suggest those tiebreaks in that order.

[Chris Rice]

The venue for this has been announced by FIDE as the Isle of Man, October 9-20, 2019. Its been organised in cooperation with Chess.com with a $432,500 prize fund at stake. Peter Doggers gives further details here.