The Grand Prix is being organized by Agon Limited, the commercial partner of the World Chess Federation, the game’s governing body. Agon has the exclusive commercial rights to organize the cycle of the World Championship.
Each Grand Prix has a prize fund of 130,000 euros, and the Geneva Grand Prix is supported by EG Capital Advisors, Kaspersky Lab and S.T. Dupont.
Twenty-four of the world’s best players are competing in the Grand Prix, with 18 of them participating in each of the tournaments. They will play a nine round swiss open played at 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move one.
The tournament runs from June 6-15, with a rest day on June 11 after round five. Each round starts at 2 pm local time (8 am New York time).
Round one
It has been three days since Leuven. I trust you all are well rested and eager to follow more top level chess. This summer's schedule accommodates your wishes, as the third leg of the 2017 FIDE Grand Prix started today. Let's see what we have.

Levon Aronian draws his pairing number | Photo: FIDE
As the top seed, with 2808 FIDE, Levon Aronian did the honors of drawing the color and thus determining the pairings. Note that he is not the only 2800 player in the event as there is also Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who has done incredibly well so far, winning one, and runner-up in the second.
Grand Prix points in bold indicate a tournament win.
FIDE Grand Prix standings
|
Player |
Feb 2017 Elo |
Sharjah |
Moscow |
Geneva |
Palma |
Total |
1 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) (P) |
2766 |
140 |
140 |
|
|
280 |
2 |
Ding Liren (CHN) (P) |
2760 |
70 |
170 |
|
|
240 |
3 |
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) (P) |
2796 |
140 |
71 |
|
|
211 |
3 |
Alexander Grischuk (RUS) (P) |
2742 |
140 |
71 |
|
|
211 |
5 |
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) (P) |
2785 |
70 |
71 |
|
|
141 |
6 |
Hou Yifan (CHN) (P) |
2651 |
7 |
71 |
|
|
78 |
7 |
Michael Adams (ENG) (P) |
2751 |
70 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
7 |
Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS) (P) |
2749 |
70 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
9 |
Anish Giri (NED) (P) |
2769 |
|
71 |
|
|
71 |
9 |
Peter Svidler (RUS) (P) |
2748 |
|
71 |
|
|
71 |
9 |
Teimour Radjabov (AZE) (P) |
2710 |
|
71 |
|
|
71 |
12 |
Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) (P) |
2709 |
70 |
|
|
|
70 |
13 |
Francisco Vallejo Pons (ESP) |
2709 |
25 |
7 |
|
|
32 |
14 |
Pavel Eljanov (UKR) (P) |
2759 |
25 |
|
|
|
25 |
14 |
Li Chao (CHN) (P) |
2720 |
25 |
|
|
|
25 |
14 |
Richard Rapport (HUN) (P) |
2692 |
25 |
|
|
|
25 |
17 |
Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) |
2711 |
3 |
20 |
|
|
23 |
18 |
Pentala Harikrishna (IND) (P) |
2758 |
|
20 |
|
|
20 |
18 |
Boris Gelfand (ISR) (P) |
2720 |
|
20 |
|
|
20 |
20 |
Jon Ludvig Hammer (NOR) (P) |
2628 |
3 |
7 |
|
|
10 |
21 |
Levon Aronian (ARM) (P) |
2785 |
7 |
|
|
|
7 |
22 |
Salem Saleh (UAE) |
2656 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
6 |
23 |
Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) (P) |
2723 |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
23 |
Alexander Riazantsev (RUS) (P) |
2671 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
Obviously, we are keeping tabs on the players indicated by a (P). Of those, with all due respect, I will discount the ones with only a theoretical chance, such as Hou Yifan, Miachael Adams, and Ian Nepomniachtchi. They're playing their third and last event in Geneva, and should any of them win it — 170 GP points are awarded — the total haul would still be short of Shakhriyar Mamedyarov's and just a few points ahead of Ding Liren's. Sorry guys, your ship has already sailed.
Looking at the results of previous tournaments, I'd hazard a guess that a “normal” +1 result is worth about 70 points. Both Shak and Ding are more than good enough to expect at least that from their remaining appearance, therefore bringing their total to about 310 points. Of course, either of them can bomb out, but it's unlikely. At least their competition cannot count on that.
So, assuming they don't, it leaves the rest with the goal of 310+ points total, which means having to win tournaments. Clearly, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Alexander Grischuk and Hikaru Nakamura are quite capable of doing that. That said, Hikaru's qualification isn't guaranteed even in that case, but with the total of 311 he will have a chance.

Alexander Grischuk is still very much in contention for one of the two qualifying spots, though he needs a great result, if not an outright win. Ernesto Inarkiev is a long shot, though theoretically possible. | Photo: FIDE
The next three contenders are Anish Giri, Peter Svidler, Teimour Radjabov and Dmitry Jakovenko. Points-wise they didn't do so badly in their only appearance so far, but there's a lot of work to do. Neither one of those is known for winning tournaments outright, at least not lately; but Giri's recent play in Norway and Leuven gave his supporters hope.
Anish Giri - Teimour Radjabov
1.e4 | 1,179,682 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 956,075 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 285,144 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,108 | 56% | 2442 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,839 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,560 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,938 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,888 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,779 | 48% | 2379 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,246 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,079 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 965 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 465 | 54% | 2381 | --- |
1.c3 | 438 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 117 | 59% | 2462 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Nh5 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.exf4 c6 9...b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 12.0-0 Ba6 13.Re1 Bf6 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.fxe5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Ra7 10.Qc2 h6 10...g6 11.0-0 11.h4!? b6 12.h5 11...b6 12.b4 a5 13.a3 Ba6?! 13...Qc7 14.Bxa6 Rxa6 15.b5! cxb5 16.c6 b4 16...Nb8 17.Nxb5 17.axb4 Nf6 18.b5 Ra7 19.Ne5 Bd6 20.Na4 11.0-0 Qc7! 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.fxe5 Bd7!? 13...b6 14.b4 a5 15.Na4! 14.a3 b6 15.b4 bxc5 16.bxc5 f6 17.f4 Rab8 18.g3 Qa5 19.Ne2 Be8 20.Bg6?! 20.Kg2 Bh5 21.Ng1 fxe5 22.fxe5 Rxf1 23.Rxf1 Qxa3 20.exf6! Bxf6 21.g4 Bd8 22.Kg2 20...Bxg6 21.Qxg6 Qd2! 22.Rf2 Qe3 23.Qg4 Kh7 23...Rb2! 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 25.Qc8+ Bf8 26.Re1 fxe5 27.dxe5 Kh7 24.Qxe6 Rbe8 25.a4? 25.Qxc6 fxe5 26.Qxd5 exd4 27.Rd1 Rd8 28.Qe5 25...fxe5 26.Qxe5 Qd3! 27.Qh5 Bf6 28.Raf1 g6 29.Qg4 h5 30.Qd7+ Re7 31.Qd6 Kg7! 32.Nc1 Qf5 33.Rd1 33.Nb3 Re3 34.Rf3 Rxf3 35.Rxf3 Re8-+ 33...Rfe8-+ 34.Qxc6 Re1+ 35.Rf1 Bxd4+! 36.Rxd4 Rxf1+ 37.Kxf1 Qh3+ 38.Kf2 Qxh2+ 39.Kf1 Qh1+ 40.Kf2 Re1 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Giri,A | 2775 | Radjabov,T | 2724 | 0–1 | 2017 | D37 | FIDE Geneva Grand Prix 2017 | 1 |
Please, wait...
A serious blow to Anish's chances, and a great start for Teimour.
Down the list again. For Eljanov, Li Chao, Rapport, Harikrishna, Gelfand, Aronian, Inarkiev and Riazantsev, their first tournament didn't go well. Scoring less than 70 points from any individual event leaves them with “must wins” in the remaining two. Tough, but Levon is Levon, so I can't write him off until he's mathematically eliminated.

Levon Aronian had to sweat quite a bit, but in the end he saved the half-point against Li Chao. Note that Li Chao was a top scorer for the Chinese team in Khanty-Mansiysk at the World Team Championship. | Photo: FIDE
Aronian was in a spot of trouble today, and should consider himself lucky to be able to split the point.
Levon Aronian - Li Chao
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.d5 d6 6.e4 Bg7 7.Nge2 exd5 8.cxd5 Nbd7 9.Ng3 h5 10.Be2 Nh7 11.Be3 h4 12.Nf1 0-0 13.Qd2 Re8 13...a6 14.a4 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Ne3 Qf6 19.g4 14.Bh6 Bd4! 15.Ne3!? 15...a6! 15...g5 16.Nf5 Ne5 17.Ng7 Re7 18.Nh5 f6 19.Nb5! 16.Nc2 16.a4 g5 17.Nf5 Ne5 18.Ng7 Re7 19.Nh5 f6 20.f4 Ng4! 16...Be5 17.Bf4 17.a4 g5! 17...b5 18.0-0 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 Ne5 20.Qh6 g5 21.g3 21.f4 gxf4 22.Rxf4 Qg5 23.Qxg5+ Nxg5 24.Rxh4 21...hxg3 22.hxg3 Qf6 23.Qh2 Ng6 24.Ne3 Bd7 25.Kg2 Kg7 26.Rh1 Rh8 27.Qg1 Qe5 28.Qf2 Nf6 29.Raf1 Nh5 30.Rfg1 30...Nhf4+!? 30...Rae8 31.gxf4 Bh3+ 32.Rxh3 Nxf4+ 33.Kf1 Nxh3 34.Qg3 Nxg1 35.Qxe5+ dxe5 36.Kxg1 c4 37.Nf5+ Kf6 38.d6 Ke6 39.a4 39...Kd7 39...Rhb8! 40.axb5? 40.Kf2 Kd7 41.Ke3 Kc6 40...axb5 41.Nxb5 Ra1+ 42.Kf2 Rc1! 43.Na3 Rxb2-+ 40.axb5 axb5 41.Nxb5 Ra2 41...Ra4 42.Nc3 Rb4 43.Nd5 Rxb2 44.Bxc4 42.Bxc4 Rxb2 43.Nc7 Rhh2 44.Bb5+ Kd8 45.Ne3 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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Aronian,L | 2809 | Li,C | 2735 | ½–½ | 2017 | E60 | FIDE Geneva Grand Prix 2017 | 1 |
Please, wait...
World Championship qualifications aside, there are always going to be some interesting games. Below is the one I like the most. I find the endgame instructive.

Hou Yifan and Pavel Eljanov played an instructive endgame | Photo: FIDE
Pavel Eljanov - Hou Yifan
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.h3 d6 7.c3 Ne7 8.Nbd2 Ng6 9.Re1 Bb6 10.Bb3 c6 11.Bc2 Re8 12.d4 Bc7 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nc4 Be6 15.Qe2 h6 16.Qf1 Nh7 17.Ne3 Nf4 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Nf6 20.Bxf4 exf4 21.Rad1 Qc8 22.Qc4 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Qf8 24.Bb3 Re8 25.Rxe8 Qxe8 26.Qb4 b5 27.Qd4 Bb8 28.a4 Qe7 29.Qd3 a6 30.Kf1 Qd7 31.Qxd7 Nxd7 32.Nd4 Ne5 33.axb5 axb5 34.Bc2 Ba7 35.b4 35...f3?! 35...Bxd4 36.cxd4 Nd7 37.Be4 Nb8 38.Ke2 Kf8 39.Kf3 Ke7 40.h4! 40.Kxf4 Kd6 40...Kd6 41.Kg4 Nd7 41...Na6 42.Kh5! 42.Kxf4 Nf6 43.g4 Nd7 36.g4 Bxd4 37.cxd4 Nc4? 37...Nd7 38.Be4 Nb8 39.Bxf3 Kf8 38.Ke1 Nb6 39.Be4 Nd5 40.Bxd5! cxd5 41.Kd2 Kf8 42.Ke3 Ke7 43.Kxf3 Kd7 43...g5 44.fxg6 fxg6 45.Kf4! Ke6 45...Kf6 46.g5+ hxg5+ 47.Kg4 46.h4 Kd6 46...Kf6 47.g5+ hxg5+ 48.hxg5+ Ke6 49.Kg4 Kd6 50.f4 Ke6 51.f5+ gxf5+ 52.Kf4 47.h5! 47.g5? h5= 47...gxh5 48.g5‼ 48.gxh5 Ke6= 48...hxg5+ 49.Kxg5 Ke6 50.f4+- 44.Kg3! 44.h4 Kd6 45.Kf4 f6 46.g5 h5! 44...Ke7 45.Kh4! g6 46.g5! h5 47.f4 Kf8 48.fxg6 fxg6 49.f5 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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Eljanov,P | 2739 | Hou,Y | 2666 | 1–0 | 2017 | C54 | FIDE Geneva Grand Prix 2017 | 1 |
Please, wait...

Pentala Harikrishna signed one of the wins of the day as he defeated Alexander Riazantsev | Photo: FIDE
Links
You can use ChessBase 14 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs to replay the games in PGN. You can also download our free Playchess client, which will in addition give you immediate access to the chess server Playchess.com.