2013 World Chess Cup (Tromsø, Norway)
Tomorrow the official opening of the 2013 World Cup will take place as players are making their way to Tromsø, Norway and settling into their accommodations. Players from around the world are gearing up with this two-week long event culminating in the awarding of top prize of US$120,000 and two spots to the World Candidates tournament. Unfortunately, there is already some bad news.
GM Ahmed Adly of Egypt will not be able to make the trip because of obligatory military duties and the refusal of military administration to delay his assignment. The participants will also be mourning the death of GM Igor Kurnosov who was killed after being struck by a vehicle in Chelyabinsk, Russia. Kurnosov had only recently competed in the Biel Open.
There will be an interesting field of competitors: the usual veterans, up-and-coming stars and brand new faces. Only two of the top 30 players is missing from the competition which may make it the strongest knockout qualifier yet. Veselin Topalov has already qualified for the World Candidates and the loser of the Anand-Carlsen match will be automatically seeded into the cycle. Both Levon Aronian and Vladimir Kramnik are required to compete in order to qualify by rating. If they should come in the first two places, then the next player on the rating list will get the slots.
Some intriguing stories are shaping up. There are four women competing in the competition which is the most in recent memory (2007 had none, 2009 had three, 2011 had two). Women’s World Champion Anna Ushenina along with GM Judit Polgar, GM Hou Yifan and WGM Deysi Cori will participate. Deysi’s brother GM Jorge Cori has also qualified. China’s Wei Yi is currently the world’s youngest Grandmaster and will get Ian Nepomaniachtchi in what could be an interesting bout. One of Europe’s top juniors GM-Elect Jan-Krzysztof Duda of Poland was nominated and will join a cadre of young talent dotting the field.
The diversity of the field shows that chess is beginning to show its true universality. However, Russia still has the most competitors (25) followed by the Ukraine (11), the USA (9) and China (8). Asia is sending a healthy contingent of 23 players as the region continues to make ground on the world stage. Africa’s loss of Adly means that only five players will travel. The continent has never fielded a player to advance to the second round. This year could be different.
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/assets/files/pgn/wcup13.pgn
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
2013 FIDE World Chess Cup Participants
a) 2011 World Cup semi-finalists
01. P. Svidler (RUS)
02. A. Grischuk (RUS)
03. V. Ivanchuk (UKR)
04. R. Ponomariov (UKR)
b) 2012 Women’s World Champion
05. A. Ushenina (UKR)
c) 2011 and 2012 Junior World Champions
06. D. Swiercz (POL)
07. A. Ipatov (TUR)
d) 18 players based on their average FIDE rating from 3/2012 to 1/2013
08. L. Aronian (ARM) 2816.22
09. V. Kramnik (RUS) 2798.88
10. T. Radjabov (AZE) 2789.22
11. S. Karjakin (RUS) 2777.44
12. F. Caruana (ITA) 2775.44
13. H. Nakamura (USA) 2772.77
14. A. Morozevich (RUS) 2760.44
15. G. Kamsky (USA) 2748.55
16. S. Mamedyarov (AZE) 2744.88
17. Wang Hao (CHN) 2739.11
18. B. Gelfand (ISR) 2738.44
19. P. Leko (HUN) 2731.11
20. E. Tomashevsky (RUS) 2728.77
21. L. Dominguez (CUB) 2727.44
22. M. Adams (ENG) 2721.66
23. R. Wojtaszek (POL) 2721.55
24. A. Giri (NED) 2715.33
25. I. Nepomniachtchi (RUS) 2709.00
26. A. Shirov (LAT) 2708.33
e) 46 players from the 2012 and 2013 European Championships
27. D. Jakovenko (RUS) 2012
28. L. Fressinet (FRA) 2012
29. V. Malakhov (RUS) 2012
30. D. Andreikin (RUS) 2012
31. E. Inarkiev (RUS) 2012
32. M. Matlakov (RUS) 2012
33. V. Bologan (MDA) 2012
34. F. Vallejo Pons (ESP) 2012
35. Y. Kryvoruchko (UKR) 2012
36. S. Azarov (BLR) 2012
37. E. Najer (RUS) 2012
38. V. Akopian (ARM) 2012
39. A. Volokitin (UKR) 2012
40. J. Smeets (NED) 2012
41. C.B. Gawain Jones (ENG) 2012
42. N. Vitiugov (RUS) 2012
43. E. Bacrot (FRA) 2012
44. A. Dreev (RUS) 2012
45. D. Khismatullin (RUS) 2012
46. M. Kobalia (RUS) 2012
47. V. Durarbeyli (AZE) 2012
48. A. Riazantsev (RUS) 2012
49. B. Jobava (GEO) 2012
50. A. Moiseenko (UKR) 2013
51. E. Alekseev (RUS) 2013
52. E. Romanov (RUS) 2013
53. A. Beliavsky (SLO) 2013
54. C. Lupulescu (ROU) 2013
55. S. Movsesian (ARM) 2013
56. H. Melkumyan (ARM) 2013
57. A. Korobov (UKR) 2013
58. I. Lysyj (RUS) 2013
59. A. Shimanov (RUS) 2013
60. A. Areshchenko (UKR) 2013
61. P. Eljanov (UKR) 2013
62. M. Kravtsiv (UKR) 2013
63. D. Dubov (RUS) 2013
64. M. Ragger (AUT) 2013
65. Z. Hracek (CZE) 2013
66. I. Popov (RUS) 2013
67. S. Brunello (ITA) 2013
68. S. Fedorchuk (UKR) 2013
69. E. Postny (ISR) 2013
70. V. Zvjaginsev (RUS) 2013
71. A. Istratescu (FRA) 2013
72. E. Safarli (AZE) 2013
f) 20 players from the Americas
73. G. Kaidanov (USA) Continental 2012
74. J. Granda Zuniga (PER) Continental 2012
75. A. Shabalov (USA) Continental 2012
76. E. Hansen (CAN) Continental 2012
77. A. Ramirez (USA) Zonal 2.1
78. A. Onischuk (USA) Zonal 2.1
79. C. Holt (USA) Zonal 2.1
80. L. M. Christiansen (USA) Zonal 2.1
81. R. Robson (USA) Zonal 2.1
82. I. R. Ortiz Suarez (CUB) Continental 2013
83. D. Flores (ARG) Continental 2013
84. J. Cori (PER) Continental 2013
85. D. Cori T. (PER) Continental 2013
86. R. Felgaer (ARG) Zonal 2.5
87. S. Mareco (ARG) Zonal 2.5
88. R. Leitao (BRA) Zonal 2.4
89. A. Fier (BRA) Zonal 2.4
90. B. Sambuev (CAN) Zonal 2.2
91. L. Bruzon (CUB) (Zonal 2.3)
92. E. Iturrizaga (VEN) (Zonal 2.3)
g) 20 players from Asia/Oceania
93. Negi Parimarjan (IND) Continental 2012
94. Yu Yangyi (CHN) Continental 2012
95. Salem A. R. Saleh (UAE) Continental 2012
96. Liu Qingnan (CHN) Continental 2012
97. Oliver Barbosa (PHI) Continental 2012
98. Nguyen Ngoc Trung Son (VIE) Zonal 3.3
99. Wesley So (PHI) Zonal 3.3
100. G. Akash (IND) Zonal 3.7
101. Z. Rahman (BAN) Zonal 3.2
102. Lou Yiping (CHN) Zonal 3.5
103. Wan Yunguo (CHN) Zonal 3.5
104. Li Chao (CHN) Continental 2013
105. M. Paragua (PHI) Continental 2013
106. Le Quang Liem (VIE) Continental 2013
107. B. Adhiban (IND) Continental 2013
108. K. Sasikiran (IND) Continental 2013
109. I. Bjelobrk (AUS) Zonal 3.6
110. Darini Pouria (IRI) Zonal 3.1
111. A. Filippov (UZB) Zonal 3.4
112. M. Markov (KGZ) Zonal 3.4
h) 6 players from Africa
113. Amin Bassem (EGY) Continental 2013
114. A. Adly (EGY) Continental 2013 – WITHDREW!
115. E. El Gindy (EGY) Continental 2013
116. Ali Sebbar (MAR) Zonal 4.1
117. S. Shoker (EGY) Zonal 4.2
118. Gillian Bwalya (ZAM) Zonal 4.3
i) 6 nominees of the FIDE President
119. M. Vachier-Lagrave (FRA)
120. Hou Yifan (CHN)
121. J. Polgar (HUN)
122. D. Navara (CZE)
123. J-K. Duda (POL)
124. Wei Yi (CHN)
j) 4 nominees of the local organising committee
125. Jon Ludvig Hammer (NOR)
126. Simen Agdestein (NOR)
127. Leif Erlend Johannessen (NOR)
128. Torbjorn Ringdal Hansen (NOR)
Total = 128 players
Flashback: At the 2004 Olympiad in Calvia, Spain, 11-year old Deysi Estela Cori Tello of Peru collects prize for the youngest participant. She scored a respectable 5-2 in a reserve role. Photo by Daaim Shabazz.
Here is Deysi now…
WGM Deysi Cori of Peru
Let the games begin!!!
Look for a number of upsets… both individual games and matches!
May be I am wrong, but I don’t think that Andrei Istratescu still plays under a Romanian flag, but under a French one.
Thanks! That was a mistake.
GM Susan Polgar and IM Lawrence Trent, a shot of playing hall
and board analysis. Follow Live Broadcast here!
Went to Wikipedia to check their coverage on the World Cup. Apparently someone already marked that Kramnik had advanced (after only one game) by placing the Russian flag in the next round. It was not a mistake, but intentional. There were no other mistakes of this kind. This kind of attitude is in poor taste and something that chess certainly does not need or tolerate! I corrected it.
There is also no FIDE rating for Bwalya in the PGN game score. I thought it was a mistake until I checked the FIDE records and Zambian players are omitted once again. It appears that Zambia is in arrears once again in dues. Shameful.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/11/gillian-bwalya-at-world-cup/
2013 World Cup: Round #1
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/12/2013-world-cup-round-1/
Isan Ortiz showed good technique in the rook ending against Judit Polgar.
Photo by Chessvibes.com.
Sunday, 11 August 2013
A few upsets… Morozevich on the brink after attack fizzles!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/12/2013-world-cup-round-1/#comment-20857
Monday, 12 August 2013
Twenty-eight tiebreaks coming…
Nepomaniachtchi, Polgar go home…
Ushenina upsets Svidler!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/12/2013-world-cup-round-1/#comment-20872
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Alekseev and Wojtaszek ousted…
“Zero Tolerance Policy” bites Peru’s Jorge Cori
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/12/2013-world-cup-round-1/comment-page-1/#comment-20880
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Round #1)
*The name in red indicates withdrawal. Opponent will receive byes in round #1.
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Video by Macauley Peterson.
2013 World Cup: Round #2
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/14/2013-world-cup-round-2/
Hikaru Nakamura seems to be in good form.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
White has a field day…
minor upsets, but the favorites on top!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/14/2013-world-cup-round-2/#comment-20884
Thursday, 15 August 2013
17 players through…
Wei Yi eliminates Shirov with a bold sacrifice!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/14/2013-world-cup-round-2/#comment-20895
Friday, 16 August 2013
Ten Russians… Six Ukrainians left of 32 players…
Ponomariov ousted by 17-year old Russian Dubov
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/14/2013-world-cup-round-2/#comment-20899
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Round #2)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/09/2013-world-chess-cup-tromso-norway/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/assets/files/pgn/wcup13.pgn
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/official-info/rules-and-regulations
Moving into the third and fourth rounds, no longer can we simply boil the matchups to rating differences. On social networks and commentaries, this is the simplistic analysis I’ve often heard. Of course there are some “underdogs” left, but some of these “upsets” were not really as big as they seemed. A lot was made of Wei Yi’s wins over Nepo and Shirov, but it is really hard to know how strong the Chinese boy is. Also Granda Zuniga’s win over Leko may not be such a big upset either. By the 5th round, we will most likely have mostly elite players left and these conversations will no longer be appropriate. Unless Wei Yi continues he onslaught which would mean he would be 2700-strength anyway!
The intense expression of GM Krishnan Sasikiran.
A disappointed Jorge Cori after being forfeited against Radjabov.
China did not perform well in Tromso. Wang Hao was upset and now China’s torch is being held by 14-year old Wei Yi.
Speaking of upsets, here is one of the biggest of the tournament Seventeen-year old Daniil Dubov surviving the intense glare of Ruslan Ponomariov during their Armegeddon game.
Of course, Jon Ludvig Hammer is quite happy! The hometown favorite beat David Navara to advance to the third round.
2013 World Cup: Round #3
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/17/2013-world-cup-round-3/
Jon Ludwig Hammar in action against Gata Kamsky.
Photo by Paul Truong.
Saturday, 17 August 2013
Aronian, Grischuk pushed to the brink…
half of today’s games were decisive!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/17/2013-world-cup-round-3/#comment-20905
Sunday, 18 August 2013
Aronian ousted, Grischuk staved off elimination…
ten tiebreaks tomorrow!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/17/2013-world-cup-round-3/#comment-20911
Monday, 19 August 2013
Down to the “Sweet Sixteen”…
most of the favorites go through…
Grande Julio Granda continues run of upsets.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/17/2013-world-cup-round-3/#comment-20923
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Round #3)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Peruvian Grandmaster Julio Granda Zuniga
Le-Mamedyarov in the fateful 154-move game.
Wei Yi had a magnificent run but bowed out against Shahkriyar Mamedyarov.
Tiebreak blitz battles!
Vitiugov-Morozevich and Karjakin-Eljanov
Baskaran Adhiban and simultaneous participants.
Kema Goryaeva of Elista, Production Director for FIDE 🙂
2013 World Cup: Round #4
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/20/2013-world-cup-round-4/
The agony of defeat… Nakamura dejectedly looks away before resigning.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Kamsky uncorks “Fire on Board”… sacrifices several pieces…
Kramnik impressive in win over Ivanchuk…
Caruana nets point over Granda
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/20/2013-world-cup-round-4/#comment-20943
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Two Americans advance, but one is not Nakamura…
Kamsky, Caruana, Kramnik are through!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/20/2013-world-cup-round-4/comment-page-1/#comment-20954
There comes a point during a chess game where even luck cannot come to one’s rescue. Unfortunately, Nakamura was faced with this predicament in his second game against GM Korobov today. Too bad! Without a doubt, chess can be ruthless.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Four Russians advance… Tomashevsky prevails in epic match!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/20/2013-world-cup-round-4/#comment-20962
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Round #4)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Seems like a short while ago when a rising star emerged. Here is a 10-year old FM Fabiano Caruana playing at 2003 Foxwoods Open (Connecticut, USA). Photo by Daaim Shabazz.
Fabiano Caruana vs. Yu Yangyi
Le Quang Liem (seated left) showed his tremendous talents and this 22-year old will begin at Webster University this fall. Photo by Anastasia Karlovich.
PART ONE
PART TWO
PART THREE
2013 World Cup: Round #5
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/23/2013-world-cup-round-5/
Peter Svidler kibitzes in Kramnik-Korobov.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Kramnik breaks out on top… other games drawn.
“Volodya the Vanquisher” chatting with Susan Polgar.
Photo by Paul Truong.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/23/2013-world-cup-round-5/#comment-20973
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Kramnik, Tomashevsky move on… Kamsky ousted!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/23/2013-world-cup-round-5/#comment-20978
Sunday, 24 August 2013
FIDE nominee Maxime Vachier-Lagrave continues fantastic run…
Three rating upsets accent exciting round!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/23/2013-world-cup-round-5/#comment-20982
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Round #5)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
2013 World Cup: Semifinals
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/26/2013-world-cup-round-6/
Draw already? 😉
Monday, 26 August 2013
Not much happened… two short draws ignite a fierce debate.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/26/2013-world-cup-round-6/#comment-20983
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
Kramnik misses win… two tiebreaks tomorrow!
Kramnik trying to figure out what went wrong.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/26/2013-world-cup-round-6/#comment-20996
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Kramnik and Andreikin roar to final!
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/26/2013-world-cup-round-6/comment-page-1/#comment-20999
The legendary GM Susan Polgar
Evgeny Tomashevsky being interviewed by Dirk Jan ten Guezendam and GM Nigel Short. Macauley Peterson in production booth across the room. Photos by Anastasia Karlovich.
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Semifinals)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/kramnik-vs-andreikin-in-cup-final/
w/ Susan Polgar and Vladimir Kramnik
Video by Gerard Demuydt (Europe-Echecs.com).
REPORTS
2013 World Cup: Finals
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/2013-world-cup-finals/
Friday, 30 August 2013
Kramnik squeezes point… takes 1-0 lead in best of four.
Kramnik finished with 44.Re7 and later, 63.Re7.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/2013-world-cup-finals/#comment-21014
Saturday, 31 August 2013
Andreikin presses, but doesn’t score… Kramnik hold one-point lead.
Garry Kasparov gave a lengthy and insightful interview.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/2013-world-cup-finals/comment-page-1/#comment-21017
Friday, 30 August 2013
Andreikin equalizes easily… needs win tomorrow.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/2013-world-cup-finals/#comment-21022
Kramnik still has it! In the end, his experience helped him restrained Andreikin’s spirited style of play. I think the young Andreikin handled the defeat with a lot of class.
Monday, 2 September 2013
Kramnik closes out match with draw… wins World Cup!
Kramnik congratulated by Ignatius Leong.
Photo by Paul Truong.
https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2013/08/29/2013-world-cup-finals/#comment-21030
August 10th-September 3rd, 2013 (Tromso, Norway)
Match Scores (Finals)
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 |
| Semifinals | Finals |
Official Website: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/
All PGN Games (TWIC): https://www.theweekinchess.com/
Rules and Regulations: https://www.chessworldcup2013.com/