The pairings for this year’s London Chess Classic, which is fast approaching, have been published.
Unlike last year, there was no need for a draw: In order to ensure an even distribution of colours over the whole Grand Chess Tour 2016, the pairings are the reverse of the Sinquefield Cup, meaning LCC wildcard Michael Adams gets St Louis wildcard Ding Liren’s pairings in reverse.
We already have a major clash to look forward to in round 1 when Hikaru Nakamura takes on Sinquefield Cup winner Wesley So with the white pieces. Nakamura is the only player who can still catch So in the Grand Chess Tour standings, which promise the winner a hefty $100,000 bonus with $50,000 for the runner-up.
Round 1
Friday 9 Dec, 16.00-22.30
Levon Aronian – Michael Adams
Hikaru Nakamura – Wesley So
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Anish Giri
Fabiano Caruana – Viswanathan Anand
Vladimir Kramnik – Veselin Topalov
Round 2
Saturday 10 Dec, 14.00-20.30
Vladimir Kramnik – Levon Aronian
Veselin Topalov – Fabiano Caruana
Viswanathan Anand – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Anish Giri – Hikaru Nakamura
Wesley So – Michael Adams
Round 3
Sunday 11 Dec, 14.00-20.30
Levon Aronian – Wesley So
Michael Adams – Anish Giri
Hikaru Nakamura – Viswanathan Anand
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Veselin Topalov
Fabiano Caruana – Vladimir Kramnik
Round 4
Monday 12 Dec, 16.00-22.30
Fabiano Caruana – Levon Aronian
Vladimir Kramnik – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Veselin Topalov – Hikaru Nakamura
Viswanathan Anand – Michael Adams
Anish Giri – Wesley So
Round 5
Tuesday 13 Dec, 16.00-22.30
Levon Aronian – Anish Giri
Wesley So – Viswanathan Anand
Michael Adams – Veselin Topalov
Hikaru Nakamura – Vladimir Kramnik
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Fabiano Caruana
Rest Day
Wednesday 14 Dec
Round 6
Thursday 15 Dec, 16.00-22.30
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Levon Aronian
Fabiano Caruana – Hikaru Nakamura
Vladimir Kramnik – Michael Adams
Veselin Topalov – Wesley So
Viswanathan Anand – Anish Giri
Round 7
Friday 16 Dec, 16.00-22.30
Levon Aronian – Viswanathan Anand
Anish Giri – Veselin Topalov
Wesley So – Vladimir Kramnik
Michael Adams – Fabiano Caruana
Hikaru Nakamura – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Round 8
Saturday 17 Dec, 14.00-20.30
Hikaru Nakamura – Levon Aronian
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Michael Adams
Fabiano Caruana – Wesley So
Vladimir Kramnik – Anish Giri
Veselin Topalov – Viswanathan Anand
Round 9
Sunday 18 Dec, 14.00-20.30
Levon Aronian – Veselin Topalov
Viswanathan Anand – Vladimir Kramnik
Anish Giri – Fabiano Caruana
Wesley So – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Michael Adams – Hikaru Nakamura
You can now buy tickets (day tickets as well as season passes) to watch all the action unfold in London Olympia’s magnificent auditorium. Tickets will also give you access to the commentary room, where grandmasters will give you insight into the games as they unfold and then the players explain what they were thinking afterwards – a real treat.
There is free entry for women and under 25s (UK residents only) – all you need to do is enter the promotional code when placing your order.
As always, there is a plethora of side events taking place within the same building: FIDE Open, Weekenders, Super Rapidplay – there is something for everyone! You can now enter those events online – early bird sales end on 17 October!
The British Knockout Championship, which had its successful debut last year, will also return and details will be published soon. The eighth edition of the UK’s largest chess festival promises to treat all its participants and visitors to a thrilling fortnight of chess action once again.
Fiona Steil-Antoni
Press Officer
Email: press@londonchessclassic.com
Website: www.londonchessclassic.com
Twitter: @london_chess
