Carlsen And Polgar On The London Eye

If you were one of the many chess fans who tuned in for the live online broadcast of the opening ceremony of the London Chess Classic you will know that it started slightly later than advertised.

The reason for the delay was the London traffic holding up Magnus Carlsen and Judit Polgar who had been at a photo shoot in the London Eye (pictured right).

So, as compensation for the delay to the ceremony here are pictures from that photo shoot, as well as some other impressions of the many chess events taking place at the Olympia Conference Centre.

Today is a rest day for the players in the main competition at the London Chess Classic.  The next round is on Thursday.

The world's #1 ranked chess player and #1 ranked woman player in a pod on the London Eye

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Don't look down! The Palace of Westminster, seat of the UK Government is visible top left

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Magnus Carlsen

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Judit Polgar

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Time for some blitz? The London Eye takes 30 minutes to revolve completely.

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Nigel Short giving a simultaneous display in aid of Chess In Schools and Communities

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Stars of tomorrow? Some of the hundreds of juniors competing in London.

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A young competitor from St. Michael's on the Mount School

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Some of the junior games in action

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Swedish GM Tiger Hillarp Persson catches up on some reading before a game

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5-time British Women's Champion Jovanka Houska

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Elchin and Samir Samadov

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The entrance foyer at the Olympia Conference Centre

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All photos courtesy of Ray Morris-Hill.