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Since 2017, the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz has been an integral component of the Grand Chess Tour. This year’s tournament is poised to once again deliver the same standards of competition at the tournament location full of grandeur that chess fans have come to know and love: the iconic Saint Louis Chess Club, which has become the capital of US chess.
Navigating the Ruy Lopez Vol.1-3
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
This will be the last rapid and blitz tournament of the tour and the fast-paced rapid and blitz structure is sure to provide a dynamic display of talent and skill, as all participants will be vying for a piece of the $175,000 prize fund.
Live spectators will not be allowed in the tournament hall to watch the rounds, but fans can watch all the action online or watch the broadcast streaming live at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
Seven “full tour” players will be joined by three wildcards for the 5-day event, with 3 days of rapid chess (3 rounds per day) followed by 2 days of blitz (9 rounds per day). Richard Rapport, a regular tour player, was supposed to take part, but due to travel restrictions related to the Covid-19, he will not be able to make it to Saint Louis, which means he will miss both the rapid and blitz tournament and the Sinquefield Cup.
Due to the continuing US travel restrictions related to Covid 19, Richard Rapport will not be able to play the STL Rapid & Blitz nor the Sinquefield Cup.
— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) August 24, 2022
GM Jeffery Xiong will replace him in the STL Rapid and Blitz, while GM Hans Niemann will take his place in the Sinquefield Cup pic.twitter.com/TRFk6NNLJW
The star-studded field will include rapid-play specialist Alireza Firouzja, World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi and defending champion Hikaru Nakamura, who will return to over-the-board action after skipping the Chennai Olympiad.
Tour leader Wesley So will not be playing, as he has already participated in three tournaments of the series this year. Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, who stand close behind the Filipino-born star in the overall ranking, will try to use this chance to take the lead and go into the Sinquefield Cup as the favourites to win this edition of the elite series.
The confirmed field for the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz:
| Name | Player Type | URS Rating | Residence |
| Hikaru Nakamura | Wildcard | 2815 | USA |
| Ian Nepomniachtchi | Full Tour Player | 2794 | FIDE |
| Fabiano Caruana | Full Tour Player | 2787 | USA |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Full Tour Player | 2784 | France |
| Levon Aronian | Full Tour Player | 2779 | USA |
| Alireza Firouzja | Full Tour Player | 2774 | France |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Full Tour Player | 2752 | Azerbaijan |
| Leinier Dominguez | Full Tour Player | 2745 | USA |
| Sam Shankland | Wildcard | 2712 | USA |
| Jeffery Xiong | Wildcard | 2697 | USA |
|
Date |
Time* |
Event |
|---|---|---|
|
August 24 |
Player Arrival | |
|
August 25 |
6:00 PM |
Private Opening Ceremony |
|
August 26 |
1:00 PM |
Rapid Round 1 |
|
2:30 PM |
Rapid Round 2 | |
|
4:00 PM |
Rapid Round 3 | |
|
August 27 |
1:00 PM |
Rapid Round 4 |
|
2:30 PM |
Rapid Round 5 | |
|
4:00 PM |
Rapid Round 6 | |
|
August 28 |
1:00 PM |
Rapid Round 7 |
|
2:30 PM |
Rapid Round 8 | |
|
4:00 PM |
Rapid Round 9 | |
|
August 29 |
1:00 PM |
Blitz Day 1 |
|
August 30 |
1:00 PM |
Blitz Day 2 |
|
5:30 PM |
Playoffs (If necessary) | |
|
6:30 PM |
Private Closing Ceremony |
