Eljanov Wins Astrakhan Grand Prix
The final FIDE Grand Prix event in Astrakhan has deservedly been won by Pavel Eljanov (pictured).
Eljanov is the top rated Ukrainian Grandmaster at 2751 Elo, ahead of his illustrious and better known countrymen Vassily Ivanchuk and Ruslan Ponomariov among others.
There were a high percentage of draws in Astrakhan, but Eljanov was a notable exception, with his fighting result of 5 wins, 2 losses and 6 draws taking first place by a clear point on 8/13.
The final standings in Astrakhan:
| Eljanov, Pavel | 2751 | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Ponomariov, Ruslan | 2733 | 1 | * | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 7 |
| Jakovenko, Dmitry | 2725 | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7 |
| Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar | 2763 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 7 |
| Alekseev, Evgeny | 2700 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Radjabov, Teimour | 2740 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7 |
| Leko, Peter | 2735 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6½ |
| Gashimov, Vugar | 2734 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 6½ |
| Wang Yue | 2752 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6½ |
| Gelfand, Boris | 2741 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 6 |
| Svidler, Peter | 2735 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | 0 | ½ | 6 |
| Ivanchuk, Vassily | 2741 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 0 | 5½ |
| Inarkiev, Ernesto | 2669 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | * | 0 | 5½ |
| Akopian, Vladimir | 2694 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | * | 5½ |
Congratulations are also due to Teimour Radjabov who held off Wang Yue in the last round to earn his place as runner-up in the Grand Prix series as a whole, and therefore qualifies for the next world championship cycle.
So, the candidates for the next World Championship cycle to find a challenger for the champion Vishy Anand will be:
- 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)
- A wildcard chosen by the organisers (tbd, must be above 2700 Elo)
The format for the cycle has yet to be decided. It is not even clear yet if it will involve matches or a tournament. The cycle should finish in time for a match against Anand sometime in 2012.
The final standings in the Grand Prix Series:
| Player | Baku | Sochi | Elista | Nalchik | Jermuk | Astrakhan | Best 3 |
| Levon Aronian (ARM) | 180 | 180 | 140 | 500 | |||
| Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | -60 | 150 | 153 | 116 | 419 | ||
| Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 105 | -45 | 153 | 105 | 363 | ||
| Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 90 | 153 | -35 | 116 | 359 | ||
| Wang Yue (CHN) | 153 | 120 | 80 | -70 | 353 | ||
| Vugar Gashimov (AZE) | 153 | -65 | 110 | 70 | 333 | ||
| Peter Leko (HUN) | 80 | 140 | 100 | -70 | 320 | ||
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 105 | 80 | -55 | 116 | 301 | ||
| Evgeny Alekseev (RUS) | -35 | 85 | 100 | 116 | 301 | ||
| Pavel Eljanov (UKR) | 35 | -20 | 70 | 180 | 285 | ||
| Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) | 65 | 20 | 180 | -20 | 265 | ||
| Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 30 | 85 | 140 | -45 | 255 | ||
| Etienne Bacrot (FRA) | -15 | 80 | 105 | 55 | 240 | ||
| Gata Kamsky (USA) | 60 | 120 | 55 | -55 | 235 | ||
| Sergey Karjakin (UKR) | 60 | 90 | -55 | 80 | 230 | ||
| Peter Svidler (RUS) | 85 | 90 | 55 | -45 | 230 | ||
| Rustam Kasimdjanov (UZB) | 80 | 20 | 100 | 200 | |||
| Vladimir Akopian (ARM) | -15 | 140 | 35 | 20 | 195 | ||
| Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) | 35 | 45 | 50 | -10 | 130 | ||
| Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) | 116 | 116 | |||||
| Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) | 15 | -15 | 20 | 20 | 55 |
The tense final round game between Radjabov and Yue is below. If Yue had won, he would have taken the final qualifying spot.
