Latest Changes To The FIDE Grand Prix

There is still uncertainty regarding the future of the 2012/13 FIDE Grand Prix, with further changes likely to the planned venues.

The third tournament has already been changed from Lisbon, Portugal to Zug, Switzerland, but the competition dates are the same (17 April - 1 May).  It also seems unlikely that the 4th leg will take place in Madrid as originally planned.  The first two events took place last year, in London and Tashkent.

The winner and runner-up of the Grand Prix 2012/13 series will qualify for the next Candidates event, to be held in 2014.

Each event features 12 of the 18 players in the series, and each player competes in four events, with his best three finishes counting for his final score. The full regulations can be found here.

The latest announcement at the FIDE Grand Prix website leaves the venue for the 4th, 5th and 6th tournaments worryingly blank. The originally listed venues were Madrid, Berlin and Paris.

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Vugar Gashimov is unable to compete due to long-term health problems and has been replaced by Gata Kamsky for the next two Grand Prix. Kamsky had already stood in for Gashimov in Tashkent last year. Best wishes to Vugar Gashimov for better health in the future!

Rustam Kasimdzhanov has also replaced Wang Hao for the next Grand Prix in Zug, Switzerland.