Ivanchuk and Short invited for Capablanca Chess Memorial

Six-player double round-robin, starting on 10th June

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.