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Palma de Mallorca is now looking forward to nine days of intense chess battles, which will finally determine the two winners of the series — participants of the Candidates 2018.
We previously reviewed all the qualification routes in some detail. These are the current standings of Grand Prix 2017, for those who have a chance to qualify.
The following are the number of points that players would get if they finish in top 5:
| Place | Grand Prix Points |
| 1st | 170 |
| 2nd | 140 |
| 3rd | 110 |
| 4th | 90 |
| 5th | 80 |
Radjabov has the best chance. He has to finish sole third and he will qualify for the Candidates. As Ding Liren has already qualified for the Candidates via World Cup, chances of MVL have also increased. If MVL finishes first or second, he makes it through. In case Radjabov or MVL tie with Mamedyarov or Grischuk, the following are the tiebreak rules:
This promises to be a very exciting last leg of the Grand Prix to determine the two players who would qualify for the Candidates 2018.
November 15, 2017 – The world’s best chess players and chess establishment came together in Bellver Castle to celebrate the opening of the final leg of the FIDE 2017 World Chess Grand Prix Palma de Mallorca — a prestigious qualifier for the World Chess Candidates Tournament.
The Opening Ceremony was held at the landmark hilltop Bellver Castle, former residence for the Kings of Mallorca built in the 14th century in a Gothic style. At the castle’s unique circular yard guests had a good opportunity to mingle with each other and enjoy modern Spanish guitar music.
The Gothic castle where the opening ceremony was held | Photo: Agon Limitied
The setup for the opening ceremony | Photo: Agon Limitied
Javier Ochoa, Honorary FIDE Vice President and President of the Spanish Chess Federation, thanked FIDE for the opportunity to host the tournament and welcomed the participants. “Spain is a country with a great Chess tradition and a thousand-year long history of playing chess,” he added.
Sebastia Nadal, President of the Winter Chess: “It is very rewarding to know that one of the best Spanish chess players of our time, Francisco Vallejo Pons, who was born and who resides here in our islands, could take part in this cycle of the World Chess.”
All the participants captured in one frame at the Gothic castle | Photo: Agon Limitied
And in front of the World Chess Grand Prix banner | Photo: Agon Limitied
In the drawing of colours, the top player of the tournament according to the FIDE rating Levon Aronian chose black pieces for the first round.
The pairings are the following: Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) – Levon Aronian (Armenia), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) – Boris Gelfand (Israel), Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) – Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Ding Liren (China) – Francisco Vallejo Pons (Spain), Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia) – Peter Svidler (Russia), Anish Giri (Netherlands) – Richard Rapport (Hungary), Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia) – Li Chao (China), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) – Alexander Riazantsev (Russia), Jon Ludvig Hammer (Norway) – Harikrishna Pentala (India).
The Palma Grand Prix is supported by Official Partner EG Capital Advisors, an international asset management company, Kaspersky Lab, World Chess and FIDE Official Cybersecurity Partner, S.T. Dupont, Official Writing Instrument, and Isklar, Official Water.
Where there is Anish, there has to be Erwin! | Photo: Agon Limitied
Will Radjabov show us some of his lethal King's Indian at this event? | Photo: Agon Limitied
What's the latest update in the Grunfeld?! | Photo: Agon Limitied
MVL tells us how to become better at Najdorf! | Photo: Agon Limitied
The two World Cup finalists! | Photo: Agon Limitied
Such opening ceremonies give the players time to catch up with each other and share some light moments | Photo: Agon Limitied
Ernesto Inarkiev | Photo: Agon Limitied
First round starts tomorrow at Hotel Iberostar Bahia de Palma, the official partner of the Series. Watch it broadcast at the World Chess website.
The games begin on November 16th. Who do you think will win? | Photo: Agon Limitied
Julia Taranova, Communications Manager
World Chess by Agon Limited
