Grand Chess Tour 2015
{{Infobox tournament
| name = Grand Chess Tour
| sport =
| year = 2015
| image = World Chess Championship 2016 Game 12 - 4.jpg
| caption = 2015 Grand Chess Tour winner Magnus Carlsen.
| start_date = 15 June
| end_date = 14 December 2015
| host = Stavanger
St. Louis
London
| purse =
| champion = {{flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen
| runner-up1 = {{flagicon|NED}} Anish Giri
| 3rd place = {{flagicon|ARM}} Levon Aronian
| points =
| stat1_label = Most tournament titles
| stat1 = {{flagicon|BUL}} Veselin Topalov
{{flagicon|ARM}} Levon Aronian
{{flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen (1)
| stat2_label = Prize money leader
| stat2 = {{flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen ($215,000)
| stat3_label = Points leader
| stat3 = {{flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen (26)
| previous =
| next = 2016
}}
Grand Chess Tour 2015 was the inaugural edition of Grand Chess Tour, an annual circuit of chess tournaments. It was won by incumbent World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen.
The Grand Chess Tour was announced on April 24, 2015, prior to the match between Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short, and was billed as "the biggest announcement in professional chess since 1988."{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/grand-chess-tour-announced-in-st-louis-7445|title='Grand Chess Tour' Announced In St. Louis|first=Peter|last=Doggers|website=Chess.com|date=25 April 2015}} It had three events – Norway Chess in June, Sinquefield Cup in August and London Chess Classic in December. Each tournament consisted of nine regular tour players, who were selected based on their rating, and one wildcard.
Format
Scoring system was as follows:
:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Place !! Points | |
| 1st | 12/13* |
| 2nd | 10 |
| 3rd | 8 |
| 4th | 7 |
| 5th | 6 |
| 6th | 5 |
| 7th | 4 |
| 8th | 3 |
| 9th | 2 |
| 10th | 1 |
Lineup
Eight players, including World Champion Magnus Carlsen, were selected based on their ratings in January 2015. Ninth player invited to the tour was Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Notably, Sergey Karjakin was absent, despite him being two-time Norway Chess winner and 11th on FIDE rankings in January 2015, while No. 8 Vladimir Kramnik and No. 10 Wesley So declined their invitations.{{cite web|url=https://ratings.fide.com/toparc.phtml?cod=337|title=Top 100 Players January 2015 - Archive|website=ratings.fide.com}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Player !Country !Rating (January 2015) |
| Magnus Carlsen
|{{NOR}} |2862 |
| Fabiano Caruana
|{{ITA}}{{efn|name="flags15"}} |2820 |
| Alexander Grischuk
|{{RUS}} |2810 |
| Veselin Topalov
|{{BUL}} |2800 |
| Viswanathan Anand
|{{IND}} |2797 |
| Levon Aronian
|{{ARM}} |2797 |
| Anish Giri
|{{NED}} |2784 |
| Hikaru Nakamura
|{{USA}} |2776 |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
|{{FRA}} |2757 |
Schedule and results
| class=wikitable
!Dates !Tournament !Host city !Winner !Runner-up !Third place |
| June 15–26
|{{flagdeco|NOR}} Stavanger |{{flagdeco|BUL}} Veselin Topalov |{{flagdeco|IND}} Viswanathan Anand |{{flagdeco|USA}} Hikaru Nakamura |
| August 22–September 3
|{{flagdeco|USA}} St. Louis |{{flagdeco|ARM}} Levon Aronian |{{flagdeco|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen |{{flagdeco|USA}} Hikaru Nakamura |
| December 4–13
|{{flagdeco|GBR}} London |{{flagdeco|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen |{{flagdeco|NED}} Anish Giri |{{flagdeco|FRA}} Maxime Vachier-Lagrave |
Tournaments
= Norway Chess =
==Wildcard qualifier==
EnterCard Chess Qualifier took place in Oslo, Norway on May 10–15, 2015, and determined last wildcard spot. Jon Ludvig Hammer of Norway won the tournament to qualify into the main event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/hammer-qualifies-for-norway-chess-6703|title=Hammer Qualifies For Norway Chess, Brings Chess Drama To TV|first=Peter|last=Doggers|website=Chess.com|date=16 May 2015}}
:
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;"
|+class=nowrap|EnterCard Chess Qualifier, May 10–15, Oslo, Norway ! rowspan=2| !! rowspan=2| Player !! colspan=8| Classical !! colspan=8| Rapid !! rowspan=2| Total | ||||||||||||||||
| Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | {{abbr|Points|2 for a win, 1 for a draw}} | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | {{abbr|Points|1 for a win, ½ for a draw}} | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:#ccffcc;"
| 1 | align=left|{{flagathlete|GM Jon Ludvig Hammer|NOR}}
| 2665 | {{CNone}} | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8
| 2578 | {{CNone}} | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 |
| 2 | align=left| {{flagathlete|GM Laurent Fressinet|FRA}}
| 2712 | 1 | {{CNone}} | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8
| 2707 | 0 | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| 3 | align=left| {{flagathlete|IM Aryan Tari|NOR}}
| 2520 | 1 | 0 | {{CNone}} | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4
| 2442 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3½ | 7½ |
| 4 | align=left| {{flagathlete|GM Nils Grandelius|SWE}}
| 2623 | 0 | 1 | 1 | {{CNone}} | 2 | 1 | 5
| 2623 | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 0 | 0 | 1½ | 6½ |
| 5 | align=left| {{flagathlete|GM Curt Hansen|DEN}}
| 2621 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | {{CNone}} | 2 | 3
| 2621 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1½ | 4½ |
| 6 | align=left| {{flagathlete|GM Simen Agdestein|NOR}}
| 2620 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | {{CNone}} | 2
| 2575 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | {{CNone}} | 1½ | 3½ |
==Blitz tournament==
Blitz tournament was played on June 15, 2015, to decide the pairings for the classical tournament. It was won by French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.{{Cite web|url=http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/norway-chess-2015/vachier-lagrave-wins-the-opening-blitz-of-the-3rd-norway-chess-tournament|title = Vachier-Lagrave wins the opening blitz of the 3rd Norway Chess tournament | the Week in Chess}}
:
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;"
|+class=nowrap|3rd Norway Chess Blitz, 15 June 2015, Stavanger, Norway{{cite web|url =http://theweekinchess.com/html/twic1077.html#2|title =The Week in Chess 1077|author =Mark Crowther|publisher =The Week in Chess|date =29 June 2015}} ! !! Player !! Blitz rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points !! {{abbr|Black|Most games with black}} !! {{abbr|Wins|Most wins}} !! {{abbr|Black wins|Most wins with black}} | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | align=left |{{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|FRA}} | 2826
| {{CNone}} | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6½ | |||
| 2 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} | 2883
| 1 | {{CNone}} | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |||
| 3 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Viswanathan Anand|IND}} | 2767
| ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|NOR}} | 2933
| 0 | 1 | 1 | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 5 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|NED}} | 2771
| ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | {{CNone}} | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 4 | ||
| 6 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|ARM}} | 2816
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |||
| 7 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|RUS}} | 2839
| ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 0 | 0 | ½ | 4 | |||
| 8 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Veselin Topalov|BUL}} | 2641
| 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | {{CNone}} | 0 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 9 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|ITA}} | 2679
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | {{CNone}} | 0 | 2½ | |||
| 10 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Jon Ludvig Hammer|NOR}} | 2648
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | {{CNone}} | 1½ |
== Classical tournament ==
:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+3rd Norway Chess, 16–25 June 2015, Stavanger, Norway, Category XXII (2782){{cite web|url =http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/norway-chess-2015/topalov-wins-norway-chess-2015|title =Topalov wins Norway Chess 2015|author =Mark Crowther|publisher =The Week in Chess|date =25 June 2015}} ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points !! {{abbr|Wins|Number of games won by each of the players in the tie}} !! {{abbr|H2H|The results of the games between or amongst the players in the tie}} !! SB !! TPR !! Tour points | |||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left |{{flagathlete|Veselin Topalov|BUL}} | 2798
| | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6½ | 2946 | 13 | |||
| 2 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Viswanathan Anand|IND}} | 2804
| ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6 | 3 | ½ | 24.75 | 2904 | 10 |
| 3 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} | 2802
| ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | ½ | 24.50 | 2904 | 8 |
| 4 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|NED}} | 2773
| 1 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 2862 | 7 | |||
| 5 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|ITA}} | 2805
| ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 4 | 1 | ½ | 17.75 | 2736 | 6 |
| 6 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|FRA}} | 2723
| 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4 | 1 | ½ | 15.75 | 2745 | 5 |
| 7 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|NOR}} | 2876
| 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3½ | 2 | 2691 | 4 | ||
| 8 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|RUS}} | 2781
| 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | 3½ | 1 | 2702 | 3 | ||
| 9 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|ARM}} | 2780
| 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 3 | 1 | ½ | 13.00 | 2657 | 2 |
| 10 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Jon Ludvig Hammer|NOR}} | 2677
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | 3 | 1 | ½ | 11.75 | 2668 | WC (1) |
= Sinquefield Cup =
:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+ 3rd Sinquefield Cup, 22 August – 3 September 2015, St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Category XXII (2794.6){{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/11843794/Grand-Chess-Tour-2015-Magnus-Carlsen-back-in-contention-for-top-prize-after-Aronians-win.html|title=Grand Chess Tour 2015: Magnus Carlsen back in contention for top prize after Aronian's win|first=Malcolm|last=Pein|work=The Telegraph|date=4 September 2015}} ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points !! {{abbr|Wins|Number of games won by each of the players in the tie}} !! {{abbr|H2H|The results of the games between or amongst the players in the tie}} !! SB !! TPR !! Tour Points | ||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#ccffcc;"
| 1 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|ARM}} | 2765 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6 | 2923 | 13 | ||||
| 2 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|NOR}} | 2853 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5 | 3 | ½ | 21.25 | 2831 | 10 |
| 3 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} | 2814 | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | ½ | 20.25 | 2835 | 8 |
| 4 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|FRA}} | 2731 | ½ | 0 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2845 | 7 | ||
| 5 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|NED}} | 2793 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 1 | 2838 | 6 | ||
| 6 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|RUS}} | 2771 | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | {{CNone}} | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4½ | 3 | 2797 | 5 | ||
| 7 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Veselin Topalov|BUL}} | 2816 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 0 | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 2 | 2792 | 4 | ||
| 8 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|USA}} | 2808 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | 3½ | 1 | 2713 | 3 | ||
| 9 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Viswanathan Anand|IND}} | 2816 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | 3½ | 0 | 2712 | 2 | ||
| 10 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Wesley So|USA}} | 2779 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 3 | 2671 | WC (1) |
= London Chess Classic =
:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ 7th London Chess Classic, 3–14 December 2015, London, England, Category XXII (2784){{cite web|url =http://theweekinchess.com/html/twic1101.html#2|title =THE WEEK IN CHESS 1101|author =Mark Crowther|publisher =The Week in Chess|date =14 December 2015}} ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points !! {{abbr|Wins|Number of games won by each of the players in the tie}} !! {{abbr|H2H|The results of the games between or amongst the players in the tie}} !! SB !! TPR !!Tour Points | ||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#ccffcc;"
| 1 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|NOR}} | 2834 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 2 | 1 | 24.00 | 2859 | 12 | |
| 2 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|NED}} | 2784 | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 2 | 1 | 23.00 | 2864 | 10 |
| 3 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|FRA}} | 2773 | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 5½ | 2 | 1 | 22.75 | 2865 | 8 |
| 4 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|ARM}} | 2788 | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5 | 2827 | 7 | |||
| 5 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|RUS}} | 2747 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4½ | 1 | 2788 | 6 | ||
| 6 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|USA}} | 2787 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 0 | ½ | 20.25 | 2784 | 4.5 |
| 7 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Michael Adams|ENG}} | 2737 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 0 | ½ | 20.25 | 2789 | WC (4.5) |
| 8 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} | 2793 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | {{CNone}} | 1 | ½ | 4 | 2740 | 3 | |||
| 9 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Viswanathan Anand|IND}} | 2796 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | {{CNone}} | 1 | 3½ | 2703 | 2 | |||
| 10 | align=left | {{flagathlete|Veselin Topalov|BUL}} | 2803 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | {{CNone}} | 2½ | 2616 | 1 |
==First place play-off==
{{3TeamBracket|
| team-width=250
|RD2-seed1 = 1
|RD2-team1 = {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|Norway}}
|RD2-score1 = 1½
|RD1-seed1 = 2
|RD1-team1 = {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|Netherlands}}
|RD1-score1 = 1
|RD2-seed2 = 3
|RD2-team2 = {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|France}}
|RD2-score2 = ½
|RD1-seed2 = 3
|RD1-team2 = {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|France}}
|RD1-score2 = 2
}}
Standings
:
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! !Player ! Sinquefield ! London ! Total points ! Prize money | ||||||
| style="background:#ccffcc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Magnus Carlsen|Norway}} | 4 | 10 | 12 | 26 | $215,000 |
| 2 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Anish Giri|Netherlands}} | 7 | 6 | 10 | 23 | $155,000 |
| 3 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Levon Aronian|Armenia}} | 2 | 13 | 7 | 22 | $145,000 |
| 4 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Maxime Vachier-Lagrave|France}} | 5 | 7 | 8 | 20 | $90,000 |
| 5 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|United States}} | 8 | 8 | 3 | 19 | $95,000 |
| 6 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Veselin Topalov|Bulgaria}} | 13 | 4 | 1 | 18 | $105,000 |
| T-7 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Alexander Grischuk|Russia}} | 3 | 5 | 6 | 14 | $60,000 |
| T-7 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Viswanathan Anand|India}} | 10 | 2 | 2 | 14 | $80,000 |
| 9 | align=left| {{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|United States}}{{efn|name="flags15"|Although representing Italy when the roster was announced, Fabiano Caruana has switched federations and played under the flag of the United States after Norway Chess{{Cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/breaking-fabiano-caruana-to-play-for-usa-updated|title=Breaking: Fabiano Caruana To Play For USA (Updated)|first=Peter|last=Doggers |website=Chess.com|date=12 May 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/quick-draw-seals-victory-for-topalov-at-norway-chess-9874|title=Topalov Wins Norway Chess After Quick Draw With Anand|first=Peter|last=Doggers |website=Chess.com|date=26 June 2015}}}} | 6 | 3 | 4.5 | 13.5 | $55,000 |
| align=left| {{flagathlete|Michael Adams|England}} | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | 4.5 | 4.5 | $20,000 | |
| align=left| {{flagathlete|Jon Ludvig Hammer|Norway}} | 1 | {{n/a}} | {{n/a}} | 1 | $15,000 | |
| align=left| {{flagathlete|Wesley So|United States}} | {{n/a}} | 1 | {{n/a}} | 1 | $15,000 |
References
{{reflist}}