Cheparinov is definitely strong enough to be in the super A group. So is Bacrot. Nigel Short has been in the A a number of times before. But they are in the B group this year along with 2 young female stars in Humpy Koneru and Hou Yifan and other very talented players such as Harikrishna, Nepomniachtchi and Stellwagen, etc.
Who will rule the B group and earn an automatic birth to the A group next year?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Cheparinov
Why is Nakamura not invited to Corus B showdown. I wonder what criteria they use for their invitation.
as usual, B tournament is more interesting than A tournament
Naka would be an excellent choice, i agree. but… i dont think they really had to invite him. Or they could have invited Almasi or Volokitin …. whoever (of this level)
I am happy to see Judit in Corus A and Nepomnyaschij + Koneru in Corus B though
I feel this would be the tournament when P Harikrishna will breakthrough! Dont ask me why but I think he had several close ones last year including the Ordix Open and the recent tournament where he finished second to Ivanchuk and then again in Reggio Emilia…