Carlsen and Aronian to play in US in Sinquefield Cup

Press Release

SAINT LOUIS (June 17, 2013) -- For the first time, world number one, Magnus Carlsen will play a high-profile tournament in the United States. He will be joined by the world number two Levon Aronian, and the top two US players Hikaru Nakamura and Gata Kamsky, to fight for the Sinquefield Cup, a four-player, double round robin scheduled to be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL) September 9-15.

Magnus Carlsen has been been the man to beat for the last few years

Levon Aronian has been the world number two with his eyes set on that top spot

CCSCSL Executive Director Tony Rich said this event marks an important milestone for U.S. chess. “We are honored to bring the world’s best to Saint Louis this September,” Rich said. “Hosting an event of this magnitude is yet another sign that the U.S. is becoming a major player in the world chess scene.”

Nakamura is coming off one of the most successful three-game runs of his career having recently defeated GMs Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Karjakin and Fabiano Caruana at the Tal Memorial, which has vaulted him back into fifth place in the world rankings. 

Hikaru Nakamura has been on a fantastic run and is now 5th in the world

Kamsky also is coming off one of his most successful tournament performances in recent years with a second-place finish at the FIDE Grand Prix that recently concluded in Thessaloniki, Greece, and a fourth U.S. Championship title, placing him in the world’s top 10 for the first time since September 2011.

Gata Kamsky is once more in the top ten, a class act

With an average FIDE rating over 2800, and all four players in the top ten, it makes it the strongest tournament in U.S. history. 

Average: 2800.5 = XXIII (ratings from the June 2013 FIDE list).

The event will be played with official FIDE tournament time controls at 40 moves in 90 minutes with a 30 second increment as of move one, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game. It is rumored a 2700+ player will be brought to provide live commentary. The opening ceremony will take place on September 8, and round one will begin at 1 p.m. CT on Monday, September 9.

The Sinquefield Cup, which will feature a prize fund of $170,000, is named after the founders of the CCSCSL, Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield. The Sinquefields were each honored by the U.S. Chess Federation with a Gold Koltanowski award in 2012, with Rex also earning the distinction in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The award is given to the person or persons who have done the most to promote chess in the U.S. each year. 

For more information, visit www.uschesschamps.com.