Karpov Joins Kings vs. Queens Field
SAINT LOUIS — Former World Champion Grandmaster Anatoly Karpov will join the Kings team in the upcoming Kings vs. Queens tournament, scheduled to be held in Saint Louis September 9-16.
The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis is hosting the tournament to coincide with the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame, which will open to the public on September 9 in Saint Louis. Kings vs. Queens: A Battle of the Sexes will feature some of the top chess players in the world in a 5-on-5 team event.
“The addition of Anatoly Karpov to this already impressive field will only serve to heighten the intensity of this battle,” said Tony Rich, the executive director of the CCSCSL. “It will be an honor to welcome Karpov to the club.”
The Queens field is headlined by the strongest female player in chess history, GM Judit Polgar. US #1 and Rapid specialist GM Hikaru Nakamura will lead the Kings into battle.
The players, including FIDE ratings and the federation each represents, are as follows:
Queens
- GM Judit Polgar (2701) – Hungary (Currently competing in Khanty Mansiysk)
- GM Kateryna Lahno (2554) – Ukraine
- IM Anna Zatonskih (2508) – U.S.
- IM Irina Krush (2472) – U.S.
- GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2469) – Russia
Kings
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (2753) – U.S.
- GM Anatoly Karpov (2617) – Russia
- IM Marc Arnold (2505) – U.S.
- GM Ben Finegold (2489) – U.S.
- IM Jacek Stopa (2482) – Poland
The average team rating of the Queens is 2548 FIDE and the King’s average rating is 2559 FIDE. This will be a Scheveningen-paired tournament, in which each of the five team members will play each of the opposing team members twice: once in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of G/25 + 10-second increment and once in a rapid game with a time control of G/25 with a 5-second increment.
The Opening Ceremony for the tournament will take place on September 9, and the first round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10.
The winning team of the event will win $20,000, divided equally between each member of that team. In addition, individual prizes will be awarded based on final standings and are are as follows:
- 1st: $5,500
- 2nd: $5,000
- 3rd: $4,500
- 4th: $4,000
- 5th: $3,500
- 6th: $3,000
- 7th: $2,500
- 8th: $2,000
- 9th: $1,500
- 10th: $1,000
Individual prizes total $32,500 and, when coupled with the team prize, the total prize fund for this event is $52,500.
Karpov replaces GM Timur Gareyev on board two for the Kings. IM Martha Fierro (2378) of Ecuador will serve as an alternate for the queens.
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Why no Humpy, Kosintseva sisters, Susan, or Stefanova? Is this a joke? Do they want the women to lose?
I don’t think J. Polgar will make it she is busy winning World Cup
It looks like Martha will replace Judit since Judit can’t be in two places at once. Still the womens team looks very talented. Glad the two top women in the USA, The #1 woman in South America, the former Womens World Champion as well as 960 champion, and Lahno is a top 5 woman. Solid field although Judit will be missed.
I think the girls will win.