Fide’s grand prix plans scuppered by withdrawal of Magnus Carlsen
Leonard Barden
The Guardian, Saturday 10 July 2010
The world chess body Fide’s plans for a grand prix tournament circuit were badly hit when its status as a world championship eliminator was downgraded, the world No1 Magnus Carlsen and other top Western players withdrew and all six events had to be played in the former USSR. Armenia’s world No5, Levon Aronian, won the series.
Fide’s women’s grand prix, in contrast, has been notably successful. Most leading women including Westerners are taking part, there is a wider range of venues and the series will directly qualify a world title challenger. China’s Hou Yifan and India’s Humpy Koneru were the favourites, but after the fourth event (of six) finished this week at Jermuk, Armenia, the race was still wide open.
The perception that women’s chess flourishes in China and the old USSR but languishes in the West is too simplistic. France and Spain have many female tournament entrants, the women’s Pride and Prejudice team has been one of the successes of the UK League, while in the US the best women are strong enough for the invitation US championship. Jen Shahade, who caused a stir with her book, is a regular online commentator at top online tournaments, while the former world No1 Susan Polgar’s daily blog is one of the most popular global chess websites.
Here is the full article.
Magnus will win it anyway.
Oh thanks for the info Susan thats funny, Pride and Prejudice Leauge! hehe. Shaka and i going down to the Taste of Buffalo to eat some chicken wings!!!
So Magnus will win the Grand Prix anyway… Since that is what this post is all about. Can’t see how that is possible as he’s pulled out?? Let’s not confuse matters here!!!
Pride and Prejudice?? Excuse me!!? WAS a women’s team. The team captain DROPPED most of the WOMEN in favour of MEN once the team got promoted to the first division of the 4NCL. Definitely a BLACK MARK against women’s chess.
Zsuzsa, I am quite surprised you published this one.
Not one your sister Judit would approve of I think…