Ivanchuk and Short invited for Capablanca Chess Memorial
Six-player double round-robin, starting on 21st June
Report by Chessdom
Havana, Cuba, March 16 (ACN Agency): Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk and English Nigel Short have confirmed their participation in the Elite Group of the annual Capablanca International Chess Memorial scheduled to begin in Havana on June 21st.
The announcement was made on Monday by National Chess Commissioner Osvaldo Diaz who added that Grand Masters Leinier Dominguez and Lazaro Bruzon will be the only Cuban representatives in the Elite Group on this occasion.
Ivanchuk, eleventh in the world ranking of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), will participate in the event for the fourth time after he won the tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Meanwhile, it will be Short’s debut in this competition.
Although he’s not exactly at his prime, Short has a record of excellent results and he has reached three final phases among candidates for the world title.
Invitations are still being sent out to other top world players and organizers expect that the tournament will have a Category 18 level with players of over or close to 2,700 points of ELO ranking.
The Elite group will be comprised of six players with a double round-robin format.
Why Short? Why not Nakamura or Onischuk or Kamsky?
It’s a bit offtopic but I did not find a birthday thread for Ivanchuk.
Best wishes to your birthday, Mister Ivanchuk! Good luck today at Amber and a healthy year!
Susan, if you get to talk to him today please give him my congratulations. Thanks!
He’s at the moment by far my favourite chess player. Hopefully he can win amber and show that he is still one of the best often this year.
Best wishes from Germany
Jochen