Candidates Matches Dates Announced

The world chess governing body FIDE has announced the dates for the candidates matches to determine the next challenger for Vishy Anand's world title.

The matches will take place between 3-27 May 2011 in Kazan, Russia.

Interestingly, FIDE seems to have left the door open to Magnus Carlsen to reconsider his decision to refuse to compete in the event.  Carlsen is still named as one of the eight qualifiers in the official announcement by FIDE.

The qualifiers are:

• Veselin Topalov (loser against Anand last time)
• Gata Kamsky (runner up in the last cycle)
• Boris Gelfand (winner of the 2009 World Cup)
• Lev Aronian (winner of the Grand Prix Series)
• Teimour Radjabov (runner-up of the Grand Prix Series)
• Magnus Carlsen (highest rated not otherwise qualified)
• Vladimir Kramnik (next highest rated not otherwise qualified)
• Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (wildcard)

The announcement also confirms that Alexander Grischuk is the first replacement, followed by Dmitry Jakovenko as second reserve and Wang Yue third, since they were the next highest finishers in the FIDE Grand Prix.

Topalov initially refused to accept Kazan as a venue because he wasn't prepared to play in Russia, but his manager Danailov seemed to soften this stance and Topalov now seems likely to accept his place.  It will be interesting to see whether he is prepared to play Kramnik should the two face each other during the event!

The draw is worked out according to defined criteria in the official rules, so if Carlsen does drop out then Grischuk doesn't simply replace him in the draw.  Instead the whole draw changes.  Not good news for players who will have spent months preparing for a particular opponent...

The original draw looked like this:

 
but the revised draw might look like this:

So a lot depends on Magnus Carlsen's decision.  If you want reconsider Magnus, the contract is right here.  Whatever the draw, the quarter final and semi-final matches will be played over 4 games, and the final over 6 games.

The winner will then face Vishy Anand for the title some time during 2012.