Bilbao Masters: photographic impressions by Fred Lucas

Grand Slam Chess Final Masters Bilbao

The Chess Grand Slam Final was staged in Bilbao, Spain, from September 1st to 13th 2008. It was a six-player double round-robin event, one of the strongest in the history of the game (at least by Elo average, 2775.6, making it a category 22 tournament). For rating purposes the traditional 1-½-0 system was used. The prize fund for the event was 400,000 Euros, with the winner receiving €150,000, the second place €70,000, etc. with the 6th player earning €30,000. You can find all ChessBase reports on this event here.

Pictorial impressions by Fred Lucas

The handshake – with Veselin Topalov visible in the reflection of the glass cabin

Carlsen ponders, with the public just meters away behind the sound-proof glass

An open zoom shot of the game

Teimour Radjabov considers his next move against Vassily Ivanchuk (background)

The chess talent from Baku: GM Teimour Radjabov

The Bilbao public watching every move in the "aquarium"

You really think you can play that? Magnus Carlsen in a game against Vassily Ivanchuk

For a few days Magnus was number one in the world on the Live Ratings

Exhaustion – it is not an easy profession this young lad has taken up

Levon Aronian vs Veselin Topalov, with chief arbiter Faik Gasamov watching

Armenia's top GM Levon Aronian, a great fan of hot food, literature and movies

The reigning World Champion could not show his full potential

The last throes of a game – Lev Aronian knows he has lost...

... and resigns ruefully to his young opponent Magnus Carlsen

Notice the resemblance? Magnus Carlsen with his two younger sisters Signe and Ingrid

All photos © Fred Lucas

Fred Lucas is specialised in business photography. He also runs a small portrait studio in the center part of Utrecht. In addition he occasionally photographs the mind sport chess. He is a member of BFN, the Dutch Association of Professional photographers. His photos have been published in industrial books and magazines, Dutch newspapers, magazines like Nieuwe Revu, international magazines and newspapers like Aftenposten, Le Monde and the New York Times.

Fred Lucas links

• Rising Stars beat Experienced team by 33½-16½
• Mainz 2008: photographic impressions by Fred Lucas
• Fred Lucas' 2008 Wijk aan Zee gallery
• From Momentoo: Faces of Corus
• Wijk aan Zee official photo gallery
• ChessBase Wijk aan Zee illustrated reports
• Momentoo – chess in available light
• Tea Lanchava: My life is a mix of beautiful dreams!
• From Momentoo: Faces of Calvià
• Studio Fred Lucas

Links Official tournament site All games in PGN All ChessBase reports on Bilbao 2008 The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program to read, replay and analyse the PGN games.