FIDE confirms participants Candidates

On Thursday the World Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced on its website that Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Alexander Grischuk, Gata Kamsky, Vladimir Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov and Veselin Topalov have all confirmed their participation for the 2011 Candidates Matches. Grischuk replaces Magnus Carlsen, who declined his participation early November.

The following announcement was published on the FIDE website:

FIDE announces that the following players have confirmed their participation for the Candidates Matches in Kazan this May, an event which will determine the next challenger of the World Champion Vishy Anand:

1. Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria, runner up of the previous World Championship)

2. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, qualified by rating)

3. Levon Aronian (Armenia, winner of the FIDE Grand-Prix 2008-2009)

4. Boris Gelfand (Israel, winner of the FIDE World Cup 2009)

5. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan, wild card)

6. Alexander Grischuk (Russia, qualification from the FIDE Grand-Prix)

7. Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan, qualification from the FIDE Grand-Prix)

8. Gata Kamsky (USA, runner up of the Challengers Match 2009).

GM Magnus Carlsen has informed FIDE that he will not participate and was therefore replaced by GM Alexander Grischuk as per regulations. The full technical regulations of the Candidates Matches are available on the FIDE website.

The dates for the 2011 Candidates matches are 3 to 27 May 2011. The matches will be held in Kazan, Russia.