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🏆 London Chess Classic GCT Finals (2019)

  PARTICIPANTS (sorted by highest achieved rating; click on name to see player's games)
Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Ding Liren

Chessgames.com Chess Event Description
London Chess Classic GCT Finals (2019)

The 11th London Chess Classic, held from 2-8 December 2019 at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington, London, England, was a knockout tournament played between the four Grand Chess Tour finalists Magnus Carlsen, Ding Liren, Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, as part of the London Chess Classic Festival. The matches consisted of eight games, two classical (worth 6 points), two rapid (4 points) and four blitz (2 points). In case of a tie, a rapid mini-match (10+5) and Armageddon (5 vs 4) would be played. The prize fund was $350,000, with $150,000 for 1st place, 100k for 2nd, 60k for 3rd and 40k for 4th. In classical chess the players received 130 minutes for the entire game, with a 30-second delay from move 1, then 25+10 for the rapid, and 5+3 for the blitz. Chief organizer: Malcolm Pein. Chief arbiter: IA Anastasia Sorokina. The event was won by Ding Liren. Table:

Semifinal 1
                       Std  Rpd   Blitz       Tbk
Vachier-Lagrave  2780  3 3  2 2  1 2 0 1  14  1 ½
Carlsen          2872  3 3  2 2  1 0 2 1  14  0 ½
Semifinal 2
                       Std  Rpd   Blitz
Ding Liren       2801  3 3  4 4  1 2 2 0  19
Aronian          2775  3 3  0 0  1 0 0 2   9

Bronze final
                       Std  Rpd   Blitz
Carlsen          2872  6 3  0 4  1 2 1 0  17
Aronian          2775  0 3  4 0  1 0 1 2  11

Final
                       Std  Rpd   Blitz
Ding Liren       2801  3 6  4 2  0 0 1 0  16
Vachier-Lagrave  2780  3 0  0 2  2 2 1 2  12
Ding Liren won the overall Grand Chess Tour 2019 and netted $294,833 in total.

Official site: http://www.londonchessclassic.com/
Official GCT site: https://grandchesstour.org/
Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/din...
ChessBase: https://en.chessbase.com/post/magnu...
Regulations: https://tickets.londonchessclassic....
Chess24: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-t...
TWIC: https://theweekinchess.com/html/twi...

Previous: London Chess Classic GCT Finals (2018). Previous GCT event: GCT Kolkata Rapid & Blitz (2019)

 page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 34  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave ½-½322019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsB95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6
2. Aronian vs Ding Liren  ½-½282019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsD40 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch
3. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen  ½-½432019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC80 Ruy Lopez, Open
4. Ding Liren vs Aronian  ½-½282019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsE50 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3, without ...d5
5. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen 0-1452019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsB56 Sicilian
6. Ding Liren vs Aronian  1-0362019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC50 Giuoco Piano
7. Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave  ½-½722019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA37 English, Symmetrical
8. Aronian vs Ding Liren 1-0322019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC53 Giuoco Piano
9. Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave 0-1832019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsB95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6
10. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen  ½-½442019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsB51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack
11. Aronian vs Ding Liren  0-1362019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA21 English
12. Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave  0-1542019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA48 King's Indian
13. Ding Liren vs Aronian ½-½492019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA56 Benoni Defense
14. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen  ½-½462019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC80 Ruy Lopez, Open
15. Aronian vs Ding Liren 0-1392019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA28 English
16. Carlsen vs M Vachier-Lagrave  ½-½592019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsD87 Grunfeld, Exchange
17. Ding Liren vs Aronian 1-0352019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsD37 Queen's Gambit Declined
18. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Carlsen  ½-½462019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC78 Ruy Lopez
19. Carlsen vs Aronian 1-0662019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsD02 Queen's Pawn Game
20. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Ding Liren ½-½902019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC78 Ruy Lopez
21. Ding Liren vs M Vachier-Lagrave 1-0502019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsA37 English, Symmetrical
22. Aronian vs Carlsen ½-½812019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsD70 Neo-Grunfeld Defense
23. M Vachier-Lagrave vs Ding Liren  1-0532019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC84 Ruy Lopez, Closed
24. Aronian vs Carlsen  ½-½562019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsC16 French, Winawer
25. Ding Liren vs M Vachier-Lagrave  ½-½482019London Chess Classic GCT FinalsE64 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Yugoslav System
 page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 34  PGN Download
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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 8 OF 8 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: @<moronovich>
I'm from Bergen. We are considered the "Danes of Norway" when it comes to winter sport.
It is not a compliment! :)
Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Count Wedgemore: <Diademas: We are considered the "Danes of Norway" when it comes to winter sport.>

Time to do something about that:

https://www.kursagenten.no/kurs/Vin...

:)

Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: <Count Wedgemore: <Diademas: We are considered the "Danes of Norway" when it comes to winter sport.>
Time to do something about that:>

I'm afraid that ship has sailed.
I were once a founding member of "Selskabet til Skiidrettens avskaffelse". We held our meetings in a smoke filled, lugubrious bar.

Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  moronovich: When someone is raving drunk we say in danish "Han har en ski på" :)

And years ago it was a common part of polite behaviour for a copenhagener to know from where the ferry to Oslo took of.Just in case you met a drunk norwegian.

Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: <moronovich: When someone is raving drunk we say in danish "Han har en ski på" :) And years ago it was a common part of polite behaviour for a copenhagener to know from where the ferry to Oslo took of.Just in case you met a drunk norwegian.>

Priceless!
I actually didn't know that. I might adopt the phrase.

Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  moronovich: You are very welcome <Diademas>
Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Sokrates: <Diademas> <I don't think <Count Wedgemore>, <valiant> or myself would disagree with you on this.>

I don't think either. I did hear the subtle, profound irony in the "pain". :-) But in these times of growing nationalism I think it's good now and then to take a clear stand.

Dec-12-19  Clemens Scheitz: ...and that "clear stand" hopefully means that in a deeper sense we are all brothers and sisters and that the best and perhaps only way to secure future global peace and commonwealth is to leave aside petty differences and pull together as humankind undivided... As far as chess, are we going to have the Jerusalem tournament anytime soon in these pages?, I think Master So is the only winner so far, the rest appear to be a bunch of draws and a couple only reached 10 moves.
Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  diceman: <Clemens Scheitz: ...and that "clear stand" hopefully means that in a deeper sense we are all brothers and sisters and that the best and perhaps only way to secure future global peace and commonwealth is to leave aside petty differences and pull together as humankind undivided...>

Global peace?
We can't even create national peace.

<leave aside petty differences and pull together>

You may want to tell that to the "Brexit" folks!

Dec-12-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Sokrates: Well spoken, dear <Clemens Scheitz>. Although reality often disheartens us (as <diceman> states), we should aim at the highest ideals. As my late countryman Piet Hein wrote:

Co-existence
or no-existence

Dec-12-19  Pedro Fernandez: <<Clemens Scheitz>: As far as chess, are we going to have the Jerusalem tournament anytime soon in these pages?> And ironically <Friedman> was Jewish.

I'm wondering myself (every time!) whether are there policies which don't let the transmission, in CG, of some tournaments. I don't know the answer, and that is annoying.

Dec-13-19  WorstPlayerEver: <But in these times of growing nationalism I think it's good now and then to take a clear stand.>

<Sokrates>

"Those who always know what’s best
are a universal pest.”
― Piet Hein

Global pest, yes.

Dec-13-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Sokrates: Right, <WPE>, and further from PH:

The noble art of losing face
may some day save the human race
and turn into eternal merit
what weaker minds would call disgrace

Dec-13-19  nok: The winds of Thor are blowing cold on this page.
Dec-13-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: <The winds of Thor are blowing cold on this page.>

They choose the path where no-one goes
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter

Dec-13-19  Pedro Fernandez: <Jerusalem>: Today has been a day with sorrow and glory.
Dec-13-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: <I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In [CG's] green & pleasant Land.>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_d...
Dec-13-19  parmetd: Why no page for GP Jerusalem?

With Shak hone, MVL has great chances to get the second spot.

Dec-13-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: < parmetd: Why no page for GP Jerusalem? With Shak hone, MVL has great chances to get the second spot>

I just asked that question at chessgames.com chessforum Until something happens, and I'm not too optimistic, we could use this page.

I'm hoping MVL gets it. Nepo will probably get the wildcard anyway.

Dec-13-19  Billy Vaughan: As best I understand, this is how MVL's qualification lines up against Nepomniachtchi's.

If MVL loses to Andreikin in round 2, Nepo will qualify if and only if he reaches the finals (round 4). Otherwise MVL qualifies.

If MVL defeats Andreikin in the classical portion, Nepo will have to win the whole event, defeating MVL in the semis along the way. Otherwise MVL qualifies.

If MVL defeats Andreikin in the tie-breaks, Nepo will be able to qualify either by winning the whole event, or by winning both rounds 2 and 3 in the classical portion and reaching the final.

Am I missing something?

Dec-13-19  Billy Vaughan: And then for So, he is on MVL and Nepo's side of the bracket, and therefore in a position to decide his fate, despite not having many points going into this GP.

He'll need to win the event with 1 or 2 more bonus points for winning in the classical phase, depending on whether MVL beats Andreikin in classical or not.

Dec-13-19  Pedro Fernandez: Hey <Billy Vaughan>, your explanation is interesting but pretty complicated. So let's reduce this. Do you mean if Nepomniachtchi win the GP then Kirill Alekseenko will be the wild card? Thank you and regards.
Dec-14-19  parmetd: We have no way of knowing which Russian is getting the wild card. That's independent of this event.
Dec-14-19
Premium Chessgames Member		  Diademas: The regulations on who is eligible for the wildcard:

2.2.F
<1 place – Player nominated by the Organizer
The Organizer of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020 has the right to nominate a player who meets at least one of the following criteria (provided that he participates in at least two events listed below in b., c. and d.):
a. The player from the top-10 players by average FIDE rating as per Clause E;
b. The player placed third in the FIDE World Cup 2019 (if the third player is qualified - then the player placed fourth, but not any further);
c. The best non-qualifying player from the FIDE Grand Swiss 2019;
d. The best non-qualifying player from the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2019.> https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou... (PDF)

By all probability it will be a Russian, so Nepo, Alekseenko and Karjakin(?) would be the names that springs to mind.

Dec-14-19  Pedro Fernandez: But <parmetd> and <Diademas>, I mean assuming Nepo qualifies. So the last spot is the wild card. Thus Russia can elects Karjakin or Alekseenko? I thought only the latter may qualify.
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