Final FIDE Grand Prix Announced
FIDE's Grand Prix series has had a troubled existence almost from the start. The global credit crunch caused venue changes as sponsors took flight, but the ludicrous FIDE decision to change the rules for the current World Championship qualifying cycle while it was still on-going was an avoidable debacle.
Nevertheless, the series was too important for FIDE to let it fail, so the venue and dates for the final tournament of the series have been announced.
Astrakhan in Russia will play host from 9-25 May, with Lev Aronian opting out of the event since he has already sealed his place as the overall winner of the series. The current rules state are that the top two finishers in the Grand Prix go forward to the next stage of the qualifying cycle, so that leaves one more qualifying place up for grabs.
The entrants for the Astrakhan Grand Prix are:
| Vladimir Akopian | Armenia |
| Evgeny Alekseev | Russia |
| Pavel Eljanov | Ukraine |
| Vugar Gashimov | Azerbaijan |
| Boris Gelfand | Israel |
| Ernesto Inarkiev | Russia |
| Vassily Ivanchuk | Ukraine |
| Dmitry Jakovenko | Russia |
| Peter Leko | Hungary |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Azerbaijan |
| Ruslan Ponomariov | Ukraine |
| Teimour Radjabov | Azerbaijan |
| Peter Svidler | Russia |
| Wang Yue | China |
The current standings are:
| Player | Baku | Sochi | Elista | Nalchik | Jermuk | Best 3 |
| Levon Aronian (ARM) | 180 | 180 | 140 | 500 | ||
| Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | 60 | 150 | 153 | 363 | ||
| Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 105 | 45 | 153 | 105 | 363 | |
| Wang Yue (CHN) | 153 | 120 | 80 | 353 | ||
| Vugar Gashimov (AZE) | 153 | 65 | 110 | 328 | ||
| Peter Leko (HUN) | 80 | 140 | 100 | 320 | ||
| Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 90 | 153 | 35 | 278 | ||
| Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) | 65 | 20 | 180 | 265 | ||
| Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 30 | 85 | 140 | 255 | ||
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 105 | 80 | 55 | 240 | ||
| Etienne Bacrot (FRA) | 15 | 80 | 105 | 55 | 240 | |
| Gata Kamsky (USA) | 60 | 120 | 55 | 55 | 235 | |
| Peter Svidler (RUS) | 85 | 90 | 55 | 230 | ||
| Sergey Karjakin (UKR) | 60 | 90 | 55 | 80 | 230 | |
| Evgeny Alekseev (RUS) | 35 | 85 | 100 | 220 | ||
| Rustam Kasimdjanov (UZB) | 80 | 20 | 100 | 200 | ||
| Vladimir Akopian (ARM) | 15 | 140 | 35 | 190 | ||
| Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) | 35 | 45 | 50 | 10 | 130 | |
| Pavel Eljanov (UKR) | 35 | 20 | 70 | 125 | ||
| Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) | 15 | 15 | 20 | 50 |
With the best three results counting towards the final score, it looks like the second qualifier will be either Radjabov, Grischuk, Yue, Gashimov, Leko, Javovenko or Ivanchuk. If scores are tied, then the tie-break is each player's fourth best tournament score. So there's still plenty to play for!
Gelfand was already qualified for the next qualifying stage by winning the World Cup last year, and Kamsky is automatically through as the runner-up in the last candidates series (losing to Topalov). Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Grand Prix but has managed to qualify anyway along with Vladimir Kramnik by having the highest ratings (and not being otherwise qualified).
So, just to make it crystal clear 
the candidates for the next World Championship cycle (after Anand plays Topalov in April) will be:
- The loser of the Anand v Topalov match
- The runner up in the 2009 qualifiers (Gata Kamsky)
- The winner of the 2009 World Cup (Boris Gelfand)
- The winner (Lev Aronian) and runner-up (tbd) of the Grand Prix Series
- The two other highest rated players (Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik)
- A wildcard chosen by the organisers (tbd, must be above 2700 Elo)
