Candidates Matches 2011 pairings
Pairings change after Grischuk replaces Carlsen

The Candidates Matches 2011, part of the World Chess Championship cycle, are scheduled for March – May in Kazan. With Grischuk replacing Carlsen, some of the pairings are changing, following article 3.1 a1

Pairings

Topalov – Kamsky (no change)
Kramnik – Radjabov
Aronian – Grischuk
Gelfand – Mamedyarov

The previous version of the pairings, with Carlsen participating, was Veselin Topalov – Gata Kamsky, Magnus Carlsen – Teimour Radjabov, Vladimir Kramnik – Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Levon Aronian – Boris Gelfand.

Note that the above confirmed pairings are in case Carlsen’s decision is final, and based on the given field.

Excerpt from the Regulations: 3. 1 Matches Format & System

A – First Round of Matches (8 players)
a1 – Matches System: The player who lost the World Championship Match 2010 (V. Anand or V. Topalov) is ranked No.1, the rest are ranked in rating order using the FIDE Rating List of January 2010. The players are paired the following way: 1 vs 8 (match 1), 2 vs 7 (match 2), 3 vs 6 (match 3), 4 vs 5 (match 4). Each match will consist of 4 games.
a2 – The four (4) winners will qualify for the second round of the Candidate Matches.

B – Second Round of Matches (4 players)
b1 – The Second Round of Matches will start 2 days after the end of the First Round. Any qualified player for the second round of the Candidates Matches can only be replaced by the player he defeated in the first round of the Candidate Matches.
b2 – Matches System: The players are ranked according to the results of the first round of the Candidates Matches: winner of match 1 is No.1, winner of match 2 is No.2, winner of match 3 is No.3 and winner of match 4 is No.4. The players are paired the following way: 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. Each match will consist of 4 games.
b3 – The two (2) winners will qualify for the third round of the Candidate Matches.

C – Third Round of Matches (2 players)
c1 – The Third Round of Matches will start 2 days after the end of the Second Round. Any qualified player for the third round of the Candidates Matches can only be replaced by the player he defeated in the second round of the Candidates Matches.
c2 – Matches System: The match between the two players will consist of 6 games.
c3 – The winner will qualify for the World Championship Match 2011.

Who do you pick to advance in these four matches?

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Tags: ,