There are lots of things to say here but....in interest of time and space let me just say this about your shaky start based on your own response:

1) It is great that you preceive your mission to be ...

"My job is to make the pinnacle of chess a sustainable business so that there will be good prize money, regular and predictable events, interesting venues, and great audience (and player) experience."

Those things must be underpinned by upholding the "Fairness and Integrity of the sport"...It is very interesting that you do not mention that in your mission statement above. Because without that you have entertainment but not a sport.

2) You claim that your choices were based on geographical diversty and future potential(what ever that means).

I would just like to point out that there are 4 RUS players participating, one of which you gave entry to. Two of the RUS players are currently falling in the FIDE rankings and Gata Kamsky is going up in the FIDE ranking and is higher ranking than both of those RUS players. So, as it relates to the RUS players, your claim of diversty and future potential seems SHAKY !

There are 3 AZE players participating.  Two our rated below Gata Kamsky and one is currently going down in the rankings. In fact, Gashimov is the one the suddenly replaced Gata Kamsky as a participant.. !

Mr. Paulsen, do you know how many Americans are participating in the Grand Prix??

Let me tell you just in case....ONE !

Which means you and FIDE have declined to invite the 11th best player in the world, Gata Kamsky ! Based on what?...it doesn't seem likely that it's diversity or future potential...based on some easily seen examples above.

That, Mr. Paulsen is about as shaky as you could have taken a first step....as it relates to "Integrity and Fairness"...

My final thoughts, While I applaud you for bringing chess more out front on the world stage, I would be very careful when working with FIDE and stay very very very Independent !

Cheers,

Tye

Thank you to apaulsen (assuming this is Andrew Paulsen himself) for the prompt response and, above all, for caring to make something bigger from the game of chess!

To elaborate on the question about fairness, which many people have raised on these forums in the past:  It has seemed to a number of us (perhaps incorrectly, but it wasn't communicated clearly) that Gata Kamsky had a higher eligibility criteria (average ratings at the times measured) than other participants who got chosen, yet he didn't make the cut but people lower on those criteria made it.  It could be that those chosen instead were chosen based on additional criteria which elevated their candidacy...  We didn't know, which created the perception of unfairness.  That can certainly be easily clarified, I trust.

Generally though, deciding which among a large set of constraints to satisfy and how to do so is inherently a task that will leave some people satisfied and others less so.  There is never an optimal solution or making everyone happy with a given solution.  Recognizing this (by everyone involved) and communicating it honestly (by people like Mr. Paulsen, whose efforts I personally applaud) is a key to understanding and moving on.

Thanks again!

this was the best nite of my young life - and i got to play chess! a BIG thank you Mr. Paulson! @kid_chess

Not only do I busy myself with considering who the actual players are in any given event, I also read comments on chess.com!  No rubber stamping.

There are 6 'wild cards' for AGON (one for each leg of the series) and one for the FIDE President.  We chose all 7 with an eye to geograpical diversity and future potential.

Why do you think my first step is 'shaky'?

And, what do you mean about 'fairness'?  On what point (in the current Grand Prix Series) are you unconvinced about fairness?

My job is to make the pinnacle of chess a sustainable business so that there will be good prize money, regular and predictable events, interesting venues, and great audience (and player) experience.

Hi Valentin...

Of course, I basically agree with you as it relates to FIDE

But if you look at FIDE'S Grand Prix participants chart it shows several different ways the participants were allowed entry i.e. ratings, FIDE President, World Cup and Agon(Paulsen).

You may very well be correct about thinking that Paulsen might have rubber stamped these 5 additional participants for FIDE....but just the same ... he (Paulsen) has to take personel responsibilty for those selections as head of Agon and as the new 'Commercial Face' of World Chess and of course ...for 'The Integrity of the Sport' etc. ....wouldn't you think?

So, as far as I can see....His first step...is a VERY shaky one....as it relates to trust issues ! 

Cheers...

Tyeee:  I strongly suspect that Andrew Paulsen doesn't busy himself with considering who the actual players are in any given event.  His job is to promote chess as an enterprise, not decide who plays and who doesn't (these are details to him).  This decision is FIDE's job, based on their admittedly imprecise and usually fleeting rules.  So ask your question of the FIDE board instead.

Still, Andrew Paulsen or someone assisting him can have a say about the strong support of fairness and abiding by established rules in the process -- since a perceived lack of fairness can make a ding (as is apparent from your comments) into his otherwise good efforts so far.

I don't trust Paulsen ! His company gave entry into the grand prix series to 5 player's lower rated than Gata Kamsky...and Paulsen is from the USA...!

Mr. Paulsen, why didn't you give entry to Gata who was higher rated than the 5 you did give entry to ???

distractingly engaging women at the opening ...  clever paulsen 

All 2700 club except Rustam. Time for Ivanchuk to shine...

Holy Smokes!   When was the last time an American was top seed at a major chess event??

Thanks!

sclukey: There is a hyperlink in the article.

http://london2012.fide.com/en/main-page

No official website? Where can I watch the games?

I don't see anyone dominating this tournament This is an extremely strong field of participants.

Good company of "bad boys",but without ME-of course -I'm-"simple the worst"

@ _valentin_ : Ivanchuk wasn't on the pictures because he was the last player to arrive. Flying in only on the morning of the first round (today).

Good luck here. :D

I'm going for Nakamura.

Go Leinier!!!

Only Ivanchuk wasn't anywhere to be seen on the pictures... Was he there?