London Chess Classic 2013

[LawrenceCooper]

Nine Grandmasters and five International Masters have already entered the FIDE Open, including the following five super-GMs:

Matuesz Bartel: 2635
Sabino Brunello: 2617
Viorel Iordachescu: 2609
Robin Van Kampen: 2606
Jon Ludvig Hammer: 2605

Trivia question for everyone - which one of these players was described as a "chess smurf" by the organiser of tournament he was playing in?

I had to Google, so I suppose it would be cheating for me to give the answer.

Clue: it took me the longest possible time.

Jeremy Clarkson?

[John Brewitt]

Has anyone kept tabs on this event and the price of a daily ticket since 2009? It seems to be ever on the increase and at a pace faster than inflation. It's now £27.50 to go in for one day. You either pay it, or you don't go.

[Sean Hewitt]

Has anyone kept tabs on this event and the price of a daily ticket since 2009? It seems to be ever on the increase and at a pace faster than inflation. It's now £27.50 to go in for one day. You either pay it, or you don't go.

Seems pretty good value to me when compared with a day out at almost any other sporting event. Not forgetting to mention that the event is run to raise money for the charity!

[Ian Thompson]

"Trivia question for everyone - which one of these players was described as a "chess smurf" by the organiser of tournament he was playing in?"

It sounds like something Hans Olav Lahlum would say, so I would guess at the Norwegian representative. Hans Olav did refer to Anders Hobber (who was then a small junior) as "Norway's chess Hobbit". (This was meant and was taken in good part.)

Yes, it was Hans Olav Lahlum - see the Bulletin section on this page and read the preamble to the IM Group B, Round 1 report.

If you can jump on a plane, his next tournament starts on Sunday.

[Jonathan Bryant]

You either pay it, or you don't go.

This is how selling tickets for a spectator event works is it not?

[Richard Bates]

It's a very different product on offer this year, and in many respects (certainly in 'action' terms) the spectator will get a lot more for their money. It will be interesting to see how the commentators adapt. It's a more populist product, and that is a challenge for commentators in itself.There obviously won't be the same potential for lengthy probing of player opinions and general discussions, and there will be less value from post game press conferences/analysis.

[Roger de Coverly]

Nine Grandmasters and five International Masters have already entered the FIDE Open, including the following five super-GMs:

Is it intended to publish the list of entrants on the website (as in previous years)?

[Matthew Lunn]

Indeed it is; I imagine the first list will go up early next week.

[Sean Hewitt]

Indeed it is; I imagine the first list will go up early next week.

Indeed. The first list will go up once the October ratings are published.

[JustinHadi]

Can the organisers confirm what tiebreak method will be used to separate 3 or more players on the same score in the case of a tie after round 4 for qualification to the main event?

[Roger de Coverly]

Can the organisers confirm what tiebreak method will be used to separate 3 or more players on the same score in the case of a tie after round 4 for qualification to the main event?

I think they have already announced that it will be by rating. Trying to determine winners four rounds into a monster Swiss is going to be pretty random whatever method had been chosen.

[David Sedgwick]

Can the organisers confirm what tiebreak method will be used to separate 3 or more players on the same score in the case of a tie after round 4 for qualification to the main event?

I think they have already announced that it will be by rating. Trying to determine winners four rounds into a monster Swiss is going to be pretty random whatever method had been chosen.

Roger is correct. To quote the entry form verbatim:

"In the event of a tie the two highest rated players go through."

[JustinHadi]

Thanks.

[John Brewitt]

The Classic is the next big event on the calendar. We can only hope that it's more exciting than the world championship that has just finished.

I note that we still don't know the full list of entrants and the burning question is: Will the new world champion, Magnus Carlsen, aged only 22, be in it or will he be too tired? Can we now afford him?

[Mick Norris]

Magnus said his next event is Zurich, which Vishy will be playing as well, so he won't be at the Classic