FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010

{{Short description|Chess tournament series}}

{{Infobox tournament

| name = FIDE Grand Prix Series 2008–10

| sport = Chess

| image = LevonAronian14a.jpg

| caption = FIDE Grand Prix 2008–10 winner Levon Aronian

| year =

| location = {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Baku
{{flagicon|Russia}} Sochi
{{flagicon|Russia}} Elista
{{flagicon|Russia}} Nalchik
{{flagicon|Armenia}} Jermuk
{{flagicon|Russia}} Astrakhan

| start_date = 19 April 2008

| end_date =
25 May 2010

| administrator = FIDE

| tournament_format = Series of Round-robin tournaments

| host =

| venues =

| participants =

| purse =

| champion = {{flagicon|Armenia}} Levon Aronian

| runners-up1 = {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Teimour Radjabov

| runners-up2 =

| matches =

| points =

| tries =

| goals =

| attendance =

| noaverage =

| mvp =

| top_scorer =

| top_try_scorer =

| stat1_label =

| stat1 =

| stat2_label =

| stat2 =

| previous =

| next = FIDE Grand Prix 2012–13

}}

The FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010 was a series of six chess tournaments that formed part of the qualification for the World Chess Championship 2012. It was administered by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. The event was won by Levon Aronian, with Teimour Radjabov second and Alexander Grischuk third.

The top two finishers here formed two of the eight players who played in the 2012 Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger for the world champion. After Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates, Grischuk took his place, due to his third place in the Grand Prix.

The winner of the Grand Prix was originally scheduled to play a match in 2010 against the winner of the Chess World Cup 2009, with the winner of that match becoming the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2012.[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4576 First FIDE Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan], Chessbase, April 19, 2008 On November 25, 2008, FIDE announced major changes, with the winner and runner-up qualifying instead for an eight-player Candidates Tournament. This caused a number of protests, with Magnus Carlsen and Michael Adams withdrawing, and two other players being replaced. (For details, see World Chess Championship 2012.)

A number of host cities withdrew, causing all the tournaments except the first two to be rescheduled.

Format

There were six tournaments spread over 2008, 2009 and 2010. Each of the 21 participating players was originally scheduled to play in exactly four of the six tournaments; though this was complicated when some players withdrew partway through.

Each tournament is a 14 player, single round-robin tournament. In each round players scored 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 for a loss. Grand prix points were then allocated according to each player's standing in the tournament: 180 grand prix points for first place, 150 for second place, 130 for third place, and then 110 down to 10 points for places four to fourteen (decreasing by 10 points for each place). (Grand Prix points were split between players on equal tournament points).

Players only counted their best three tournament results. The player with the most grand prix points was the winner.

If a tie-break was needed for the overall grand prix winner, the system was:[http://grandprix.fide.com/regulations.html Grand Prix Regulations, section 7.2], FIDE web site, accessed May 5, 2008

  1. The fourth result not already in the top three performances
  2. The number of actual game points scored in the four tournaments
  3. The number of first-place finishes
  4. The number of second-place finishes
  5. The number of won games
  6. Drawing of lots

=Tournament dates=

The tournament dates and locations were as follows:[http://www.chessdom.com/news/chess-grand-prix Chess Grand Prix 2008–2009 (updated)], Chessdom.com, accessed April 30, 2008

  • April 19 – May 6, 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
  • July 30 – August 15, 2008, Sochi, Russia
  • December 13–29, 2008, Elista, Russia (rescheduled from Doha, Qatar, in November 2008)[https://old.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/3534-next-grand-prix-event-in-elista-press-release Next Grand Prix Event in Elista – Press Release], FIDE web site, 23 November 2008
  • April 14–30, 2009, Nalchik, Russia (rescheduled from Montreux, Switzerland)
  • August 9–24, 2009, Jermuk, Armenia (rescheduled from Elista, Russia){{cite web|url=http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/3591-fide-grand-prix-in-yerevan|title=FIDE Grand Prix in Yerevan|date=5 December 2008|accessdate=18 January 2009|publisher=FIDE|archive-date=16 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116073729/http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/3591-fide-grand-prix-in-yerevan|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://jermuk2009.fide.com/|title=FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk|publisher=FIDE}}
  • May 9–25, 2010, Astrakhan, Russia (rescheduled from Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, in October 2009)[https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic741.html#16 Grand Prix Karlovy Vary Cancelled], The Week in Chess, 19 January 2009{{cite web |script-title=ru:В следующем году в Астрахани разыграют Гран-при ФИДЕ |language=Russian |url=http://jilkin.ru/news/?id=3952 |date=13 October 2009 |accessdate=15 December 2009 |publisher=Website of Alexander Zhilkin |archive-date=19 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819000617/http://jilkin.ru/news/?id=3952 |url-status=dead }}

=Draw rules=

A variation from normal chess rules was that the players were not allowed to talk to each other during the game and a draw by agreement was not allowed. A draw has to be claimed with the arbiter, who was assisted by an active grandmaster who had the title for at least ten years. The only draws allowed (except for stalemate) were:[http://grandprix.fide.com/regulations.html Grand Prix Regulations, section 4.4], FIDE web site, accessed May 2, 2008

Participants

=Qualification=

=Prominent non-participants=

Of the original 14 players who qualified, Anand, Kramnik and Topalov (2008/2010 contenders), Shirov (World Cup 2007) and Morozevich (ratings list) were all not taking part. One of the first four nominated reserves, Judit Polgár was also not participating. The lineup for the Grand Prix included 13 of the 20 top-rated Grandmasters at the time it was announced, though none of the top four.

The only one to publicly give a reason was Alexander Morozevich, who announced that he was boycotting the Grand Prix, saying the process was too long, unwieldy and disorganised. He claimed that Anand, Kramnik and Topalov were also boycotting.[http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4477 Alexander Morozevich: "I am not giving up the fight!"], Chessbase, February 27, 2008 The Week in Chess reported that Kramnik and Topalov were not participating because the event had insufficient prize money.[https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic697.html#25 The Week in Chess 697] March 17, 2008

Josef Resch of Universal Event Promotion (organizer of 2008 World Championship) also spoke about the difficulties in organizational details with FIDE in the totality of the World Chess Championship cycle.[https://en.chessbase.com/post/-i-am-ready-to-resume-negotiations-with-fide- I am ready to resume negotiations with FIDE] (ChessBase, Josef Resch interview]

=Original participants=

On March 5, 2008, FIDE released the list of participants, along with their world rankings according to the January 2008 ratings list (shown here in brackets).[https://old.fide.com/component/content/article/3-news/1541-32-fide-grand-prix-participants-host-cities-schedule FIDE Grand Prix. Participants, host cities, schedule.]{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} FIDE press release,, March 5, 2008, with a link to [http://www.fide.com/images/stories/NEWS/download/gp_2008_participants.pdf List of participants PDF file][http://grandprix.fide.com/participants.html Participants – Grand Prix], FIDE web site, accessed April 30, 2008

=Changes after the second and third tournaments=

After Doha and Montreux refused to host tournaments, their nominees Al-Modiahki and Pelletier were removed from the series. Carlsen and Adams withdrew from the Grand Prix. These players were replaced by Evgeny Alekseev, Pavel Eljanov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov (from the rating list) and Vladimir Akopian (Jermuk nominee) from the third tournament onwards.{{cite web |url=http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/grand-prix-adams-also-out-akopian-alekseev-eljanov-kasimdzhanov-in/ |title=Grand Prix: Adams also out; Akopian, Alekseev, Eljanov & Kasimdzhanov in |date=11 December 2008 |accessdate=14 December 2008 |publisher=Chessvibes |archive-date=20 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420195234/http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/grand-prix-adams-also-out-akopian-alekseev-eljanov-kasimdzhanov-in/ |url-status=dead }}

After Karlovy Vary withdrew in January 2009 (after the third tournament), the Karlovy Vary nominee David Navara was also excluded from the Grand Prix, and was not replaced.

Prize money

The Regulations indicate the following disbursement of prize monies.[https://web.archive.org/web/20081218033830/http://grandprix.fide.com/regulations.html FIDE 2008-09 Grand Prix Regulations (archived)]

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
PlaceSingle Grand Prix eventOverall standingsGrand Prix points
1€30,000€75,000180
2€22,500€50,000150
3€20,000€40,000130
4€15,000€30,000110
5€12,500€25,000100
6€11,000€20,00090
7€10,000€18,00080
8€8,500€16,00070
9€7,500€14,00060
10€6,000€12,00050
11€5,50040
12€5,00030
13€4,50020
14€4,00010

For each event there was 162000 euros available (for 14 players), and 300000 euros in the overall standings (top 10).

Events crosstables

=Baku, April–May 2008=

The first Grand Prix event began on April 20, 2008 and concluded on May 5, 2008 (Elo average 2717, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:[https://theweekinchess.com/html/twic704.html The Week in Chess 704], May 5, 2008

class="wikitable"

! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! Total !! Grand Prix points

style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

align="left" |{{flagathlete|Vugar Gashimov|Azerbaijan}}2679{{CNone}}½½½1½1½1½½½½½8153⅓
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

align="left" |{{flagathlete|Wang Yue|China}}2689½{{CNone}}½½½½1½½11½½½8153⅓
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

align="left" |{{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|Norway}}2765½½{{CNone}}0½1½1½½½½118153⅓
4–5align="left" |{{flagathlete|Shakhriyar Mamedyarov|Azerbaijan}}2752½½1{{CNone}}½½½½½10110105
4–5align="left" |{{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|Russia}}27160½½½{{CNone}}½½½½½11½1105
6–7align="left" |{{flagathlete|Michael Adams|England}}2729½½0½½{{CNone}}1½0011½½85
6–7align="left" |{{flagathlete|Peter Svidler|Russia}}274600½½½0{{CNone}}½11½½½185
8–10align="left" |{{flagathlete|Teimour Radjabov|Azerbaijan}}2751½½0½½½½{{CNone}}1½001½660
8–10align="left" |{{flagathlete|Gata Kamsky|United States}}27260½½½½100{{CNone}}½½½½1660
8–10align="left" |{{flagathlete|Sergey Karjakin|Ukraine}}2732½0½0½10½½{{CNone}}½½½1660
11–12align="left" |{{flagathlete|Ivan Cheparinov|Bulgaria}}2696½0½100½1½½{{CNone}}00135
11–12align="left" |{{flagathlete|David Navara|Czech Republic}}2672½½½000½1½½1{{CNone}}½035
13–14align="left" |{{flagathlete|Étienne Bacrot|France}}2705½½00½½½0½½1½{{CNone}}0515
13–14align="left" |{{flagathlete|Ernesto Inarkiev|Russia}}2684½½010½0½00011{{CNone}}515

=Sochi, July–August 2008=

The second Grand Prix event began on July 31, 2008 and concluded on August 14, 2008 (Elo average 2708, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:

class="wikitable"
PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1

{{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|Armenia}}2737{{CNone}}½½½½½½0½11111180
2{{flagathlete|Teimour Radjabov|Azerbaijan}}2744½{{CNone}}0½0½1½½½11118150
3–4{{flagathlete|Wang Yue|China}}2704½1{{CNone}}½½½½½½½½1½½120
3–4{{flagathlete|Gata Kamsky|United States}}2723½½½{{CNone}}½½½1½½0½11120
5–7{{flagathlete|Peter Svidler|Russia}}2738½1½½{{CNone}}1001½0½½1790
5–7{{flagathlete|Dmitry Jakovenko|Russia}}2709½½½½0{{CNone}}½½1½1½½½790
5–7{{flagathlete|Sergey Karjakin|Ukraine}}2727½0½½1½{{CNone}}½½01½½1790
8–9{{flagathlete|Vasyl Ivanchuk|Ukraine}}27811½½01½½{{CNone}}½½½0½½65
8–9{{flagathlete|Vugar Gashimov|Azerbaijan}}2717½½½½00½½{{CNone}}½½½1165
10–11{{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|Russia}}27280½½½½½1½½{{CNone}}0½½½645
10–11{{flagathlete|Ivan Cheparinov|Bulgaria}}268700½1100½½1{{CNone}}½½½645
12{{flagathlete|Boris Gelfand|Israel}}2720000½½½½1½½½{{CNone}}½½30
13–14{{flagathlete|David Navara|Czech Republic}}264600½0½½½½0½½½{{CNone}}0415
13–14{{flagathlete|Mohammed Al-Modiahki|Qatar}}255600½00½0½0½½½1{{CNone}}415

=Elista, December 2008=

The third tournament was held in Elista between 14 and 28 December 2008 (Elo average 2713, Cat. XIX).

class="wikitable"
PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

{{flagathlete|Teimour Radjabov|Azerbaijan}} 2751{{CNone}}½½½½1½½1½11½08153⅓
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

{{flagathlete|Dmitry Jakovenko|Russia}}2737½{{CNone}}½½½½½11½½½½18153⅓
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 1–3

{{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|Russia}}2719½½{{CNone}}01½½1½½11½½8153⅓
4{{flagathlete|Vugar Gashimov|Azerbaijan}}2703½½1{{CNone}}0½1½½½½1½½110
5–9{{flagathlete|Peter Leko|Hungary}}2747½½01{{CNone}}0½½½1½½½½80
5–9{{flagathlete|Étienne Bacrot|France}}27050½½½1{{CNone}}½½½½½½½½80
5–9{{flagathlete|Shakhriyar Mamedyarov|Azerbaijan}}2731½½½0½½{{CNone}}½½½½1½½80
5–9{{flagathlete|Wang Yue|China}}2736½00½½½½{{CNone}}½1½1½½80
5–9{{flagathlete|Rustam Kasimdzhanov|Uzbekistan}}267200½½½½½½{{CNone}}10½1180
10{{flagathlete|Ivan Cheparinov|Bulgaria}}2696½½½½0½½00{{CNone}}1011650
11–12{{flagathlete|Evgeny Alekseev|Russia}}27150½0½½½½½10{{CNone}}01½35
11–12{{flagathlete|Pavel Eljanov|Ukraine}}27200½00½½00½11{{CNone}}½135
13–14{{flagathlete|Vladimir Akopian|Armenia}}2679½½½½½½½½000½{{CNone}}½515
13–14{{flagathlete|Ernesto Inarkiev|Russia}}266910½½½½½½00½0½{{CNone}}515

=Nalchik, April 2009=

The fourth tournament was held in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria between 14 and 29 April 2009 (Elo average 2725, Cat. XX).

class="wikitable"
PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
style="background:#ccffcc;"

|1

{{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|Armenia}}2754{{CNone}}11½½½½½0½11½1180
2–3{{flagathlete|Peter Leko|Hungary}}27510{{CNone}}1½½½1½½½½½1½140
2–3{{flagathlete|Vladimir Akopian|Armenia}}269600{{CNone}}½1½½11½½½½1140
4–5{{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|Russia}}2748½½½{{CNone}}1110½½001½7105
4–5{{flagathlete|Étienne Bacrot|France}}2728½½00{{CNone}}1½½1½1½½½7105
6–7{{flagathlete|Evgeny Alekseev|Russia}}2716½½½00{{CNone}}½½1½½½½185
6–7{{flagathlete|Boris Gelfand|Israel}}2733½0½0½½{{CNone}}½1½1½1085
8–11{{flagathlete|Gata Kamsky|United States}}2720½½01½½½{{CNone}}01½½½0655
8–11{{flagathlete|Sergey Karjakin|Ukraine}}27211½0½0001{{CNone}}1½½½½655
8–11{{flagathlete|Peter Svidler|Russia}}2726½½½½½½½00{{CNone}}01½1655
8–11{{flagathlete|Shakhriyar Mamedyarov|Azerbaijan}}27250½½10½0½½1{{CNone}}½½½655
12–14{{flagathlete|Vasyl Ivanchuk|Ukraine}}27460½½1½½½½½0½{{CNone}}0½20
12–14{{flagathlete|Rustam Kasimdzhanov|Uzbekistan}}2695½0½0½½0½½½½1{{CNone}}½20
12–14{{flagathlete|Pavel Eljanov|Ukraine}}26930½0½½011½0½½½{{CNone}}20

=Jermuk, August 2009=

The fifth tournament took place in Jermuk, Armenia between 8 and 24 August 2009 (Elo average 2719, Cat. XIX).

The tournament was won by Ivanchuk. Aronian took equal second, sufficient for him to win the Grand Prix.

class="wikitable"
PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
style="background:#ccffcc;"

|1

{{flagathlete|Vasyl Ivanchuk|Ukraine}}2703{{CNone}}1½1½½½½½½1½½1180
2–3{{flagathlete|Boris Gelfand|Israel}}27550{{CNone}}0½11½½½½½1118140
2–3{{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|Armenia}}2768½1{{CNone}}10½½01½1½1½8140
4–6{{flagathlete|Evgeny Alekseev|Russia}}27140½0{{CNone}}½½½11½½11½100
4–6{{flagathlete|Rustam Kasimdzhanov|Uzbekistan}}2672½01½{{CNone}}½½½½½½½11100
4–6{{flagathlete|Peter Leko|Hungary}}2756½0½½½{{CNone}}1½½½½½11100
7{{flagathlete|Sergey Karjakin|Ukraine}}2717½½½½½0{{CNone}}½½1½1½½780
8{{flagathlete|Pavel Eljanov|Ukraine}}2716½½10½½½{{CNone}}0½½½½170
9–10{{flagathlete|Gata Kamsky|United States}}2717½½00½½½1{{CNone}}½0½1½655
9–10{{flagathlete|Étienne Bacrot|France}}2721½½½½½½0½½{{CNone}}1½0½655
11–12{{flagathlete|Dmitry Jakovenko|Russia}}2760½½0½½½½½10{{CNone}}½00535
11–12{{flagathlete|Vladimir Akopian|Armenia}}271200½½½½0½½½½{{CNone}}½½535
13{{flagathlete|Ernesto Inarkiev|Russia}}2675½00000½½011½{{CNone}}½20
14{{flagathlete|Ivan Cheparinov|Bulgaria}}267800½000½0½½1½½{{CNone}}410

=Astrakhan, May 2010=

The sixth tournament took place in Astrakhan, Russia between 9 and 25 May 2010 (Elo average 2730, Cat. XX).

class="wikitable"
PlayerRating1234567891011121314TotalGrand Prix points
style="background:#ccffcc;"

|1

{{flagathlete|Pavel Eljanov|Ukraine}}2751{{CNone}}½½½0½0111½½118180
2–6{{flagathlete|Ruslan Ponomariov|Ukraine}}2733110½½½{{CNone}}½½½11½½7116
2–6{{flagathlete|Dmitry Jakovenko|Russia}}2725½½{{CNone}}½½½1½½½½½½½7116
2–6{{flagathlete|Teimour Radjabov|Azerbaijan}}27400½½1½½½½{{CNone}}½½½½17116
2–6{{flagathlete|Shakhriyar Mamedyarov|Azerbaijan}}2763½½½{{CNone}}10½10½½½1½7116
2–6{{flagathlete|Evgeny Alekseev|Russia}}27001½½0{{CNone}}½½0½½½½117116
7–9{{flagathlete|Vugar Gashimov|Azerbaijan}}2734½{{CNone}}½½½½00½½½11½70
7–9{{flagathlete|Peter Leko|Hungary}}273501½01½½{{CNone}}½½½½½½70
7–9{{flagathlete|Wang Yue|China}}27520½½½½½½½½{{CNone}}½½½170
10–11{{flagathlete|Peter Svidler|Russia}}2735½½½½½10½½½{{CNone}}½0½645
10–11{{flagathlete|Boris Gelfand|Israel}}2741½½½1½{{CNone}}½½½½0½0½645
12–14{{flagathlete|Vassily Ivanchuk|Ukraine}}2741½0½½½½0½½½½{{CNone}}0020
12–14{{flagathlete|Vladimir Akopian|Armenia}}26940½½½0½½½00½11{{CNone}}20
12–14{{flagathlete|Ernesto Inarkiev|Russia}}266900½001½½½½11{{CNone}}020

Grand Prix standings

Grand Prix points in bold indicate a tournament win. A number in brackets is a player's worst result of four and doesn't add to the total.

Aronian scored enough points to win the Grand Prix before the last event took place.[http://jermuk2009.fide.com/13.html Round 13 Report, Jermuk Grand Prix] Hence he decided not to play the last tournament of the Grand Prix.{{cite web |title=FIDE Calendar 2010 |url=http://www.fide.com/index.php?option=com_fidecalendar&view=fidecalendar&ny=2010 |accessdate=15 December 2009 |publisher=FIDE}}{{cite web |url=http://www.chessdom.com/news-2009/astrakhan-fide-grand-prix |title=FIDE Grand Prix to take place in Astrakhan |publisher=Chessdom |accessdate=15 December 2009 |archive-date=21 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221203745/http://www.chessdom.com/news-2009/astrakhan-fide-grand-prix |url-status=dead }}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
PlayerQual.BakuSochiElistaNalchikJermukAstrakhanPlayedBest 3
style="background:#99ff99;"

| 1

align=left| {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|ARM}}RL1801801403500
style="background:#99ff99;"

| 2

align=left| {{flagathlete|Teimour Radjabov|AZE}}RL(60)150153⅓1164419⅓
style="background:#ccffcc; border-top:3px solid green"

| 3

align=left| {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|RUS}}RR105(45)153⅓1054363⅓
4align=left| {{flagathlete|Dmitry Jakovenko|RUS}}HC90153⅓(35)1164359⅓
5align=left| {{flagathlete|Wang Yue|CHN}}PR153⅓12080(70)4353⅓
6align=left| {{flagathlete|Vugar Gashimov|AZE}}HC153⅓(65)110704333⅓
7align=left| {{flagathlete|Peter Leko|HUN}}RL80140100(70)4320
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 8

align=left| {{flagathlete|Shakhriyar Mamedyarov|AZE}}RL10580(55)1164301
9align=left| {{flagathlete|Evgeny Alekseev|RUS}}RR(35)851001164301
10align=left| {{flagathlete|Pavel Eljanov|UKR}}RRcolspan="2"|not qualified35(20)701804285
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 11

align=left| {{flagathlete|Boris Gelfand|ISR}}RL(30)85140454270
12align=left| {{flagathlete|Vasyl Ivanchuk|UKR}}RL6520180(20)4265
13align=left| {{flagathlete|Étienne Bacrot|FRA}}PR(15)80105554240
style="background:#ccffcc;"

| 14

align=left| {{flagathlete|Gata Kamsky|USA}}CH6012055(55)4235
15align=left| {{flagathlete|Sergey Karjakin|UKR}}CP6090(55)804230
16align=left| {{flagathlete|Peter Svidler|RUS}}PR859055(45)4230
17align=left| {{flagathlete|Rustam Kasimdjanov|UZB}}RRcolspan="2"|not qualified80201003200
18align=left| {{flagathlete|Vladimir Akopian|ARM}}HCcolspan="2"|not qualified(15)14035204195
19align=left| {{flagathlete|Ivan Cheparinov|BUL}}PR354550(10)4130
20align=left| {{flagathlete|Ruslan Ponomariov|UKR}}RRcolspan="5"|not qualified1161116
21align=left| {{flagathlete|Ernesto Inarkiev|RUS}}HC15(15)2020455
style="background:lightgrey"

| –

align=left| {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|NOR}}CP153⅓colspan="4"|withdrew1
align=left| {{flagathlete|Michael Adams|ENG}}RR85colspan="4"|withdrew1
align=left| {{flagathlete|David Navara|CZE}}HC3515colspan="2"|excluded2
align=left| {{flagathlete|Mohamad Al-Modiahki|QAT}}HC15colspan="4"|excluded1
align=left| {{flagathlete|Yannick Pelletier|SUI}}HCcolspan="4"|excluded0

Qual. = Qualification: CH = World Championship, CP = World Cup, RL = rating list, RR = reserve rating list, PR = presidential nominee, HC = host city nominee

Notes: Gata Kamsky was later granted a place in the 2012 Candidates Tournament as runner-up of the 2009 Challenger Match. Boris Gelfand qualified for the Candidates Tournament by winning the Chess World Cup 2009. Magnus Carlsen qualified for the Candidates Tournament by rating (average of July 2009 and January 2010 FIDE rating lists). Later Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates Tournament, and he was replaced by Alexander Grischuk, who took third place in the Grand Prix. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was later granted a place in the Candidates Tournament as organisers' wild card.

Notes

{{reflist|2}}