The very strong field:
Veselin Topalov, BUL 2801
Peter Svidler, RUS 2765
Levon Aronian, ARM 2752
Peter Leko, HUN 2740
Vassily Ivanchuk, UKR 2729
Ettienne Bacrot, FRA 2717
Teimour Radjabov, AZE 2700
Francisco Vallejo, ESP 2650
Who will be the top 3 finishers? Who will finish last? 
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Veselin Topalov, BUL 2801
Peter Svidler, RUS 2765
Levon Aronian, ARM 2752
Peter Leko, HUN 2740
Vassily Ivanchuk, UKR 2729
Ettienne Bacrot, FRA 2717
Teimour Radjabov, AZE 2700
Francisco Vallejo, ESP 2650
I pick Topalov to definitely win. he will have an easy time of it. Only Anand could give him a run for it.
then I pick Ivanchuck and Svidler.
for last place I pick the lowest rated player Francisco Vallejo. this is not necessarily bad for him. he is the lowest rated and that is where he would be expected to finish. I do hope he does better however.
Vallejo to be last place. Actually I think he is well out of his league and should not have been invited. There were much more worthy candidates out there than him. But the host country always gets a spot.
This will be a true test for Aronian. He’s proven he can hang with the big boys. Now it’s time to prove he can hang with the super-GM’s like Topalov, Svidler, and Leko. If he places in the top 3 this will propel him to truly be a world championship candidate (even though he’s already qualifed from the World Cup). It would be the first true contender since former world Champion Tigran Petrosian. There have been other strong Armenian GM’s like Akopian but so far nothing to the caliber of play that Aronian has shown in this past year.
My pick to win here is Svidler. Everyone underestimates him however this is a player that is not scared of anyone and also will play hypermodern chess against a classical field. He is a dangerous unknown in the event in my opinion.
1. Ivanchuk
2. Topalov
3. Svidler
Eli
hey what happened to prizes from the WAZ contest?
Vallejo Pons will finish last
Eli
1.Veselin Topalov, BUL 2801
2.Vassily Ivanchuk, UKR 2729
3.Levon Aronian, ARM 2752
Last Teimour Radjabov, AZE 2700
Etienne and not Ettienne…
quote “This will be a true test for Aronian.”
Arnoian had his test at WAZ Corus. he did not do as well as his rating would indicate. Aronian has a high rating based on winning many games against GM’s below 2700. He needs to first prove he can beat the Plus 2700 players consistently.
I see this as his 2nd opportunity to get practice against the top 2700+ players.
1. Peter Svidler
2. Veselin Topalov
(tied for first!)
3. Vassily Ivanchuk
Last: Francisco Vallejo-Pons