Chessapalooza continues without a break as the second mighty FIDE Grand Prix tournament is already through two rounds. This one is taking place in the Russian resort of Sochi, also site of the 2014 Winter (!) Olympics. Lots of fun renovations going on there these days as they kick out the residents to build private resorts and prepare to construct the Olympic Village on a local cemetery. Good times, good times. Anyway, chess is there now and it's looking like another great Grand Prix show. Anti-short-draw rules and a category 19 field: Ivanchuk, Radjabov, Aronian, Karjakin, Grischuk, Kamsky, Gelfand, Svidler, Gashimov, Jakovenko, Wang Yue, Cheparinov, Navara, Al Modiahki. Five players lead with 1.5/2.
The Sochi winter olympics are in 2014, not 2012.
What is the criteria for selection to the grand prix? why is al-modiakhi there for example?
All the host cities get to choose an entrant
Any news of whether the Women's World Championship will still be held in Nalchik, in view of the war breaking out about a 100 miles away in Georgia-South Ossetia?
Jakovenko was chosen by Sochi
@ Stephen Cowpar - Doha choose him, he is the strongest Qatar player, and as everyone else will play 4 tournaments.
You don't have to have a war to host a FIDE championship..but it helps!
jaideepblue,
What war are you talking about? I missed that one.
see chessgirl's comments - the women's wc in nalchik. escalating situation in georgia/south ossetia.
Suprising leader Cheparinov - will he hold on?
Dang! Radja just got all Topa on Chepa, saying, Who's your daddy now?
Well, he also said the game was "a game of patzers, playing on the boulevard, with a level less than 2000, completely ridiculous" and "Really, the level of some European junior championship, and I'm not talking about under 16 but under 8!"
http://sochi2008.fide.com/round-5-radjabov-beats-cheparinov-joins-lead-with-grischuk.html
Yes, that's what I meant.
Chess in a nutshell, from what some critics describe as the best TV show of all time, The Wire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whwawZ1YoOc