Standings after 3 rounds
Full standings here: http://chess-results.com/tnr149389.aspx
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar
October 23, 2014
General News, Major Tournaments, SPICE / Webster, Susan's Personal Blog
2 Comments
May I know why GM Wesley So is suddenly out in this SPICE Cup 2014?
I saw his name in the original lists of participants before the tournament.
Thanks for your reply.
This tournament has a relatively weak field with abundant low rated players. This is NOT a good tourney for GM Wesley So to participate given his stature as world # 10 with a 2762 elo rating. A mere draw against these low rated players means a -3.5 elo points at the very least (look at GM Le 2 draws against low rated players and he just lost 7 elo points in this tourney while a win is worth only .8 to 1 elo point). But the real reason behind GM Wesley So non-participation is he does not want to jeopardize his chances in the 2015 Tata Steel Chess Tournament – a super tournament compose of 12 players only, 12 rounds with only the Top 15 in the world gets invited. Meaning, if your not in thebl top 15 you would NOT be even consider by the organizers. The 2015 Tata Steel Chess Tourney is expected to announce the 12 man players on October 23, 2015. And since GM Wesley So is ranked # 14 in Fide October 2015 rating & # 10 in the live rating, he has a great chance to be included unless he screw his elo ratings by participating in Spice Cup where he has a high chances of losing elo points by a mere draw. Look at GM Le, drew 2 times & he lost 7 elo points pushing him out of the 2700 club. So sitting out the Spice Cup is a wise decision. Anyway, he just won $ 100 k in the Millionaires Chess, he should enjoy it.