FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010

The FIDE Grand Prix 2008–2010 was a series of six chess tournaments that formed part of the qualification for the World Chess Championship 2012. It was administered by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. The event was won by Levon Aronian, with Teimour Radjabov second and Alexander Grischuk third.

FIDE Grand Prix Series 2008–10
FIDE Grand Prix 2008–10 winner Levon Aronian
Tournament information
SportChess
LocationAzerbaijan Baku
Russia Sochi
Russia Elista
Russia Nalchik
Armenia Jermuk
Russia Astrakhan
Dates19 April 2008–
25 May 2010
AdministratorFIDE
Tournament
format(s)
Series of Round-robin tournaments
Final positions
ChampionArmenia Levon Aronian
Runner-upAzerbaijan Teimour Radjabov

The top two finishers here formed two of the eight players who played in the 2012 Candidates Tournament to determine the challenger for the world champion. After Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates, Grischuk took his place, due to his third place in the Grand Prix.

The winner of the Grand Prix was originally scheduled to play a match in 2010 against the winner of the Chess World Cup 2009, with the winner of that match becoming the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2012.[1] On November 25, 2008, FIDE announced major changes, with the winner and runner-up qualifying instead for an eight-player Candidates Tournament. This caused a number of protests, with Magnus Carlsen and Michael Adams withdrawing, and two other players being replaced. (For details, see World Chess Championship 2012.)

A number of host cities withdrew, causing all the tournaments except the first two to be rescheduled.

Format

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There were six tournaments spread over 2008, 2009 and 2010. Each of the 21 participating players was originally scheduled to play in exactly four of the six tournaments; though this was complicated when some players withdrew partway through.

Each tournament is a 14 player, single round-robin tournament. In each round players scored 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 for a loss. Grand prix points were then allocated according to each player's standing in the tournament: 180 grand prix points for first place, 150 for second place, 130 for third place, and then 110 down to 10 points for places four to fourteen (decreasing by 10 points for each place). (Grand Prix points were split between players on equal tournament points).

Players only counted their best three tournament results. The player with the most grand prix points was the winner.

If a tie-break was needed for the overall grand prix winner, the system was:[2]

  1. The fourth result not already in the top three performances
  2. The number of actual game points scored in the four tournaments
  3. The number of first-place finishes
  4. The number of second-place finishes
  5. The number of won games
  6. Drawing of lots

Tournament dates

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The tournament dates and locations were as follows:[3]

Draw rules

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A variation from normal chess rules was that the players were not allowed to talk to each other during the game and a draw by agreement was not allowed. A draw has to be claimed with the arbiter, who was assisted by an active grandmaster who had the title for at least ten years. The only draws allowed (except for stalemate) were:[9]

Participants

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Qualification

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Prominent non-participants

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Of the original 14 players who qualified, Anand, Kramnik and Topalov (2008/2010 contenders), Shirov (World Cup 2007) and Morozevich (ratings list) were all not taking part. One of the first four nominated reserves, Judit Polgár was also not participating. The lineup for the Grand Prix included 13 of the 20 top-rated Grandmasters at the time it was announced, though none of the top four.[12]

The only one to publicly give a reason was Alexander Morozevich, who announced that he was boycotting the Grand Prix, saying the process was too long, unwieldy and disorganised. He claimed that Anand, Kramnik and Topalov were also boycotting.[13] The Week in Chess reported that Kramnik and Topalov were not participating because the event had insufficient prize money.[14]

Josef Resch of Universal Event Promotion (organizer of 2008 World Championship) also spoke about the difficulties in organizational details with FIDE in the totality of the World Chess Championship cycle.[15]

Original participants

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On March 5, 2008, FIDE released the list of participants, along with their world rankings according to the January 2008 ratings list (shown here in brackets).[12][16]

Changes after the second and third tournaments

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After Doha and Montreux refused to host tournaments, their nominees Al-Modiahki and Pelletier were removed from the series. Carlsen and Adams withdrew from the Grand Prix. These players were replaced by Evgeny Alekseev, Pavel Eljanov, Rustam Kasimdzhanov (from the rating list) and Vladimir Akopian (Jermuk nominee) from the third tournament onwards.[17]

After Karlovy Vary withdrew in January 2009 (after the third tournament), the Karlovy Vary nominee David Navara was also excluded from the Grand Prix, and was not replaced.

Prize money

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The Regulations indicate the following disbursement of prize monies.[18]

Place Single Grand Prix event Overall standings Grand Prix points
1 €30,000 €75,000 180
2 €22,500 €50,000 150
3 €20,000 €40,000 130
4 €15,000 €30,000 110
5 €12,500 €25,000 100
6 €11,000 €20,000 90
7 €10,000 €18,000 80
8 €8,500 €16,000 70
9 €7,500 €14,000 60
10 €6,000 €12,000 50
11 €5,500 40
12 €5,000 30
13 €4,500 20
14 €4,000 10

For each event there was 162000 euros available (for 14 players), and 300000 euros in the overall standings (top 10).

Events crosstables

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Baku, April–May 2008

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The first Grand Prix event began on April 20, 2008 and concluded on May 5, 2008 (Elo average 2717, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:[19]

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1–3   Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) 2679 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 8 153⅓
1–3   Wang Yue (China) 2689 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 8 153⅓
1–3   Magnus Carlsen (Norway) 2765 ½ ½ Does not appear 0 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8 153⅓
4–5   Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 2752 ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 1 1 0 105
4–5   Alexander Grischuk (Russia) 2716 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 105
6–7   Michael Adams (England) 2729 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 ½ 0 0 1 1 ½ ½ 85
6–7   Peter Svidler (Russia) 2746 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 Does not appear ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 85
8–10   Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2751 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 1 ½ 0 0 1 ½ 6 60
8–10   Gata Kamsky (United States) 2726 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 0 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 6 60
8–10   Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine) 2732 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 6 60
11–12   Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria) 2696 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ Does not appear 0 0 1 35
11–12   David Navara (Czech Republic) 2672 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ 0 35
13–14   Étienne Bacrot (France) 2705 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ Does not appear 0 5 15
13–14   Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia) 2684 ½ ½ 0 1 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 1 Does not appear 5 15

Sochi, July–August 2008

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The second Grand Prix event began on July 31, 2008 and concluded on August 14, 2008 (Elo average 2708, Cat. XIX).

The final crosstable was as follows:

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1   Levon Aronian (Armenia) 2737 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 180
2   Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2744 ½ Does not appear 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 8 150
3–4   Wang Yue (China) 2704 ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 120
3–4   Gata Kamsky (United States) 2723 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 120
5–7   Peter Svidler (Russia) 2738 ½ 1 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 0 0 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 7 90
5–7   Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) 2709 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 7 90
5–7   Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine) 2727 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 7 90
8–9   Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2781 1 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 65
8–9   Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) 2717 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 1 65
10–11   Alexander Grischuk (Russia) 2728 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ Does not appear 0 ½ ½ ½ 6 45
10–11   Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria) 2687 0 0 ½ 1 1 0 0 ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 6 45
12   Boris Gelfand (Israel) 2720 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 30
13–14   David Navara (Czech Republic) 2646 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 4 15
13–14   Mohammed Al-Modiahki (Qatar) 2556 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 Does not appear 4 15

Elista, December 2008

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The third tournament was held in Elista between 14 and 28 December 2008 (Elo average 2713, Cat. XIX).

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1–3   Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2751 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 0 8 153⅓
1–3   Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) 2737 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 8 153⅓
1–3   Alexander Grischuk (Russia) 2719 ½ ½ Does not appear 0 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 8 153⅓
4   Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) 2703 ½ ½ 1 Does not appear 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 110
5–9   Peter Leko (Hungary) 2747 ½ ½ 0 1 Does not appear 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 80
5–9   Étienne Bacrot (France) 2705 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 80
5–9   Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 2731 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 80
5–9   Wang Yue (China) 2736 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 80
5–9   Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) 2672 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 1 0 ½ 1 1 80
10   Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria) 2696 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 0 Does not appear 1 0 1 1 6 50
11–12   Evgeny Alekseev (Russia) 2715 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 Does not appear 0 1 ½ 35
11–12   Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) 2720 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 1 Does not appear ½ 1 35
13–14   Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) 2679 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ Does not appear ½ 5 15
13–14   Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia) 2669 1 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ Does not appear 5 15

Nalchik, April 2009

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The fourth tournament was held in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria between 14 and 29 April 2009 (Elo average 2725, Cat. XX).

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1   Levon Aronian (Armenia) 2754 Does not appear 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 180
2–3   Peter Leko (Hungary) 2751 0 Does not appear 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 140
2–3   Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) 2696 0 0 Does not appear ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 140
4–5   Alexander Grischuk (Russia) 2748 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 1 1 1 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 ½ 7 105
4–5   Étienne Bacrot (France) 2728 ½ ½ 0 0 Does not appear 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 7 105
6–7   Evgeny Alekseev (Russia) 2716 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 85
6–7   Boris Gelfand (Israel) 2733 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 0 85
8–11   Gata Kamsky (United States) 2720 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 1 ½ ½ ½ 0 6 55
8–11   Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine) 2721 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 Does not appear 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 6 55
8–11   Peter Svidler (Russia) 2726 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 Does not appear 0 1 ½ 1 6 55
8–11   Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 2725 0 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 6 55
12–14   Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2746 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ Does not appear 0 ½ 20
12–14   Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) 2695 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ 20
12–14   Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) 2693 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 20

Jermuk, August 2009

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The fifth tournament took place in Jermuk, Armenia[20] between 8 and 24 August 2009 (Elo average 2719, Cat. XIX).

The tournament was won by Ivanchuk. Aronian took equal second, sufficient for him to win the Grand Prix.

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1   Vasyl Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2703 Does not appear 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 180
2–3   Boris Gelfand (Israel) 2755 0 Does not appear 0 ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 8 140
2–3   Levon Aronian (Armenia) 2768 ½ 1 Does not appear 1 0 ½ ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 8 140
4–6   Evgeny Alekseev (Russia) 2714 0 ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 100
4–6   Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) 2672 ½ 0 1 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 100
4–6   Peter Leko (Hungary) 2756 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 100
7   Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine) 2717 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 7 80
8   Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) 2716 ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 70
9–10   Gata Kamsky (United States) 2717 ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 Does not appear ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ 6 55
9–10   Étienne Bacrot (France) 2721 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ Does not appear 1 ½ 0 ½ 6 55
11–12   Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) 2760 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 Does not appear ½ 0 0 5 35
11–12   Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) 2712 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ 5 35
13   Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia) 2675 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 1 ½ Does not appear ½ 20
14   Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria) 2678 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ Does not appear 4 10

Astrakhan, May 2010

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The sixth tournament took place in Astrakhan, Russia between 9 and 25 May 2010 (Elo average 2730, Cat. XX).

Player Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Total Grand Prix points
1   Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine) 2751 Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 1 1 1 ½ ½ 1 1 8 180
2–6   Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine) 2733 1 1 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ 7 116
2–6   Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia) 2725 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 7 116
2–6   Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) 2740 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 7 116
2–6   Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 2763 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 1 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 7 116
2–6   Evgeny Alekseev (Russia) 2700 1 ½ ½ 0 Does not appear ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 7 116
7–9   Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan) 2734 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 70
7–9   Peter Leko (Hungary) 2735 0 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 70
7–9   Wang Yue (China) 2752 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ 1 70
10–11   Peter Svidler (Russia) 2735 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ Does not appear ½ 0 ½ 6 45
10–11   Boris Gelfand (Israel) 2741 ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ Does not appear ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ 6 45
12–14   Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 2741 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ Does not appear 0 0 20
12–14   Vladimir Akopian (Armenia) 2694 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 ½ 1 1 Does not appear 20
12–14   Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia) 2669 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 Does not appear 0 20

Grand Prix standings

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Grand Prix points in bold indicate a tournament win. A number in brackets is a player's worst result of four and doesn't add to the total.

Aronian scored enough points to win the Grand Prix before the last event took place.[20] Hence he decided not to play the last tournament of the Grand Prix.[21][22]

Player Qual. Baku Sochi Elista Nalchik Jermuk Astrakhan Played Best 3
1   Levon Aronian (ARM) RL 180 180 140 3 500
2   Teimour Radjabov (AZE) RL (60) 150 153⅓ 116 4 419⅓
3   Alexander Grischuk (RUS) RR 105 (45) 153⅓ 105 4 363⅓
4   Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) HC 90 153⅓ (35) 116 4 359⅓
5   Wang Yue (CHN) PR 153⅓ 120 80 (70) 4 353⅓
6   Vugar Gashimov (AZE) HC 153⅓ (65) 110 70 4 333⅓
7   Peter Leko (HUN) RL 80 140 100 (70) 4 320
8   Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) RL 105 80 (55) 116 4 301
9   Evgeny Alekseev (RUS) RR (35) 85 100 116 4 301
10   Pavel Eljanov (UKR) RR not qualified 35 (20) 70 180 4 285
11   Boris Gelfand (ISR) RL (30) 85 140 45 4 270
12   Vasyl Ivanchuk (UKR) RL 65 20 180 (20) 4 265
13   Étienne Bacrot (FRA) PR (15) 80 105 55 4 240
14   Gata Kamsky (USA) CH 60 120 55 (55) 4 235
15   Sergey Karjakin (UKR) CP 60 90 (55) 80 4 230
16   Peter Svidler (RUS) PR 85 90 55 (45) 4 230
17   Rustam Kasimdjanov (UZB) RR not qualified 80 20 100 3 200
18   Vladimir Akopian (ARM) HC not qualified (15) 140 35 20 4 195
19   Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) PR 35 45 50 (10) 4 130
20   Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR) RR not qualified 116 1 116
21   Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) HC 15 (15) 20 20 4 55
  Magnus Carlsen (NOR) CP 153⅓ withdrew 1
  Michael Adams (ENG) RR 85 withdrew 1
  David Navara (CZE) HC 35 15 excluded 2
  Mohamad Al-Modiahki (QAT) HC 15 excluded 1
  Yannick Pelletier (SUI) HC excluded 0

Qual. = Qualification: CH = World Championship, CP = World Cup, RL = rating list, RR = reserve rating list, PR = presidential nominee, HC = host city nominee

Notes: Gata Kamsky was later granted a place in the 2012 Candidates Tournament as runner-up of the 2009 Challenger Match. Boris Gelfand qualified for the Candidates Tournament by winning the Chess World Cup 2009. Magnus Carlsen qualified for the Candidates Tournament by rating (average of July 2009 and January 2010 FIDE rating lists). Later Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the Candidates Tournament, and he was replaced by Alexander Grischuk, who took third place in the Grand Prix. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was later granted a place in the Candidates Tournament as organisers' wild card.

Notes

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  1. ^ First FIDE Grand Prix in Baku, Azerbaijan, Chessbase, April 19, 2008
  2. ^ Grand Prix Regulations, section 7.2, FIDE web site, accessed May 5, 2008
  3. ^ a b Chess Grand Prix 2008–2009 (updated), Chessdom.com, accessed April 30, 2008
  4. ^ Next Grand Prix Event in Elista – Press Release, FIDE web site, 23 November 2008
  5. ^ "FIDE Grand Prix in Yerevan". FIDE. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  6. ^ "FIDE Grand Prix in Jermuk". FIDE.
  7. ^ Grand Prix Karlovy Vary Cancelled, The Week in Chess, 19 January 2009
  8. ^ В следующем году в Астрахани разыграют Гран-при ФИДЕ (in Russian). Website of Alexander Zhilkin. 13 October 2009. Archived from the original on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  9. ^ Grand Prix Regulations, section 4.4, FIDE web site, accessed May 2, 2008
  10. ^ Top 25 Players, (Excel spreadsheet) FIDE web site, accessed April 30, 2008
  11. ^ a b c FIDE announces its Grand Prix Circuit 2008/09, Chessbase, February 6, 2008
  12. ^ a b FIDE Grand Prix. Participants, host cities, schedule.[permanent dead link] FIDE press release,, March 5, 2008, with a link to List of participants PDF file
  13. ^ Alexander Morozevich: "I am not giving up the fight!", Chessbase, February 27, 2008
  14. ^ The Week in Chess 697 March 17, 2008
  15. ^ I am ready to resume negotiations with FIDE (ChessBase, Josef Resch interview]
  16. ^ Participants – Grand Prix, FIDE web site, accessed April 30, 2008
  17. ^ "Grand Prix: Adams also out; Akopian, Alekseev, Eljanov & Kasimdzhanov in". Chessvibes. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  18. ^ FIDE 2008-09 Grand Prix Regulations (archived)
  19. ^ The Week in Chess 704, May 5, 2008
  20. ^ a b Round 13 Report, Jermuk Grand Prix
  21. ^ "FIDE Calendar 2010". FIDE. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  22. ^ "FIDE Grand Prix to take place in Astrakhan". Chessdom. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
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