FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2019 - Isle of Man

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Back to the chess in the Isle of Man...

The Chessbase round two report tells me that Brandon Clarke got his place because his father is from the Isle of Man (which I did not know). What are the rules about who qualifies in various ways for this event?

The miniature Safarli-Rodshtein is well worth playing though. You wouldn't think after move 16 that the game would end 9 moves later!

[Roger de Coverly]

What are the rules about who qualifies in various ways for this event?

There were rules for the FIDE qualifiers, top X by rating basically plus Junior and Senior Champions while the local organisers had their own rules for wildcards.

Their invitees appear to have been a mixture of leading women players, Isle of Man residents and connections and members of the chess.com Manx 4NCL team. Keith Arkell was a last minute invite, I believe.

The official website has or had a list of participants and how they qualified.

[JustinHorton]

Tari v Paehtz 1-0 with no moves

[IM Jack Rudd]

Tari v Paehtz 1-0 with no moves

Elisabeth's ill.

[JustinHorton]

Not seriously, I hope

[Kevin Thurlow]

I hope Elisabeth recovers quickly too.

Spare a thought for Gavrilescu who defended Q vs Q+hP for ages on the icrement, then blundered about 4 moves before the 50-move draw...

[Mick Norris]

It's the only method of the four where playing extra chess games can make you less likely to qualify.

Is there a rule in place which says players qualifying by rating have to have played in two of the World Cup, Grand Prix and the Grand Swiss?

Yes which is why those like Giri and MVL can miss IOM having played the WC and GP

[Chris Rice]

Round 4 pairings. Luke is doing well in the early going for this tournament on 2.5/3 and now has White against Adhiban. David after winning against Vocaturo now has 2/3 and is White vs Akopian.

Ivan Sokolov was musing on FB and is like a lot of us confused by this wild card stuff and wants it clarified on the FIDE website:
"With great pleasure I am following IOM Grand Swiss, but am rather confused on the wild cards issue. We have about 50 players under 2600 (so I assume 90% of them are WCs) and also (we have for sure) a couple 2600+ WCs meaning that about one third of participants are WCs - which is highly unusual for a World Championship cycle event. Out of those 50 players under 2600, we have 32 (!!) of them under 2500 (some of them I have frankly never heard of).
While I have (in general) absolutely nothing against Ladies participating, the number of them participating here is rather staggering - unless this is a 2 in 1 event, so best Lady qualifies further in the Woman cycle. I assume not to be the only one confused and FIDE official WCs explanation (preferably on their website) I am sure many will appreciate."

[Roger de Coverly]

While I have (in general) absolutely nothing against Ladies participating, a number of them participating here is rather staggering

I had assumed it was boasting rights against Gibraltar. Surely the number of wild cards and rights to decide who they were was part of the sponsorship deal.

[Chris Rice]

While I have (in general) absolutely nothing against Ladies participating, a number of them participating here is rather staggering

I had assumed it was boasting rights against Gibraltar. Surely the number of wild cards and rights to decide who they were was part of the sponsorship deal.

You're probably right but I think Sokolov's point is that this is supposed to be a World Championship qualifier and that a lot of the field are below 2500 which should be the minimum rating to be included in such an event.

[Roger de Coverly]

You're probably right but I think Sokolov's point is that this is supposed to be a World Championship qualifier and that a lot of the field are below 2500 which should be the minimum rating to be included in such an event.

When FIDE next seek organisers and sponsors for a "Grand Swiss", presumably in 2021, perhaps they will stipulate a rating floor for wild cards.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

About historical comparisons of strength, how does this event compare to recent European Individual Championships and the Russian Championship Superfinals. The latter are closed round-robins (not an Open Swiss). And I thought the Aeroflot Opens were meant to be very strong. What criteria are used to compare such tournaments?

[Richard Bates]

What criteria are used, or what criteria could be used?

If the former, generally power of assertion, if the latter... well, perhaps you could think of some?

[Geoff Chandler]

The increase in Wild cards was probably caused by so many players who qualified by rating declining to play.

https://iominternationalchess.com/playe ... cards.html

And even if that was not the case what is the problem.
Only 3, Isle of Man residents, are untitled. 16 of the 32 wild cards are GM's. Only 44 of the 110 players are rated lower than 2600

This one off event should have no rating ceiling. It's a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP candidates qualifier.
The clue is in the words 'World Championship.' The chess world does not revolve around 2600+ players.
This is what is so great about this event, It's a wonderful step by FIDE and the organisers. I want two on the calendar.

Ivan Sokolov's Facebook post was mentioned . I can counter that with one one from Keith Arkell:

"'I'm both grateful and over the Moon to receive a wildcard entry into the Isle of Man Grand Swiss, starting on Thursday.
It's a Candidates qualifier, which means that I'm potentially just 25 games away from a World Championship match with Magnus Carlsen.
That I'd be more likely to win the national lottery twice in a row is beside the point."

And you can bet Keith is not the only one having a dream come true and an everlasting memory.

About 18 months ago 70% of this field would never dream they were 11 games away from a board in the candidates.
This is what chess can do, it's events like this where everyone gets a chance makes you glad you know the game of chess.

[Leonard Barden]

Magnus in serious trouble against Kovalev, Sesse +2.56, 93-game unbeaten run in danger......