London Chess Classics 2009
Carlsen, Kramnik, and Nakamura top seeds

London joins the club of super tournaments with the 1st London Chess Classics, scheduled to start 8th of December, 2009. It will feature the current World Blitz Champion Magnus Carlsen, the Tal Memorial winner and ex World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, the winner of BNbank Blitz Hikaru Nakamura, the 2008 China national champion Ni Hua, and the local top grandmasters Nigel Short, Michael Adams, Luke J McShane, and David Howell.

The London Chess Classics 2009 is a round robin tournament with a Classical time control 40/2, 20/1, g/15’+30″. Sofia Rules will apply with three points for a win.

The opening ceremony and drawing of lots will take place Monday 7th of December. Rounds start daily at 14:00 local time (15:00 CET), with 11th of December rest day and last round starting at 12:00.

The total prize fund is 100 000 eur. It is divided in six main prizes: 1st 25000 Euros, 2nd 15000 Euros, 3rd 10000 Euros, 4th 6000 Euros, 5th 5000 Euros, 6th 3000 Euros, A Brilliancy Prize of 10,000 Euros, 6 x Daily Best Game prizes of 1,000 Euros each, and a winners’ pool of 20,000 Euros for each game won.

Official website / London Classics index / Participants London Classics / Participants FIDE open / Information

London classics FIDE rated open

Parallel to the London Classics there will be a FIDE rated open, offering IM and GM norm opportunities. It starts on the 8th of December and is a 9 round Swiss event.

Full information about the open here.

Besides, there will be weekend classics, Rapid tournaments, Foyer Blitz Prix, the English Junior Rapid Chess Championship, and simul by Korchnoi. Full information about these events can be found at the official website

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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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