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2019 Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX

This event has already taken place. All information below is for reference only.

Event Details

Sep 2, 2019 - Sep 5, 2019

The Saint Louis Chess Club will bring eight of the top chess players in the world, including legendary world champion Garry Kasparov, to play in the Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX this September. The matches will be played in Chess 960 style, also known as Fischer Random, with $200,000 in prizes.

What is Chess 960?

Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random, is a variant of chess created by Bobby Fischer in the late 1990s in which the pieces on the home rank are randomized, with 960 representing the number of possible starting positions.

What is Chess 9LX?

Chess 9LX is a trademark of the Saint Louis Chess Club, and the name of one of its annual tournaments. All competitions in the Chess 9LX tournament are played in the Chess 960 or Fischer Random style. Players will not know the order of the home rank pieces until they arrive before the start of the round and will have to rely on their creativity in rapid and blitz games.

Players

Fabiano Caruana	vs.	Garry Kasparov
Wesley So	vs.	Veselin Topalov
Leinier Dominguez	vs.	Peter Svidler
Hikaru Nakamura	vs.	Levon Aronian

Results

Day 1 Position: NRKRQRRN
	Rapid 1	Rapid 2	Blitz 1	Blitz 2	Total Score
G. Kasparov	1	0	0	0	1
F. Caruana	1	2	1	1	5

W. So	2	1	1	0	4
V. Topalov	0	1	0	1	2

L. Dominguez	1	0	0	½	1½
P. Svidler	1	2	1	½	4½

H. Nakamura	0	0	0	½	½
L. Aronian	2	2	1	½	5½

Day 2 Position: BRQKNBNR
	Rapid 3	Rapid 4	Blitz 3	Blitz 4	Total Score
G. Kasparov	1	0	1	0	3
F. Caruana	1	2	0	1	9

W. So	1	2	½	1	8½
V. Topalov	1	0	½	0	3½

L. Dominguez	1	1	0	0	3½
P. Svidler	1	1	1	1	8½

H. Nakamura	0	2	1	½	4
L. Aronian	2	0	0	½	8

Day 3 Position: NRNKQRBB
	Rapid 5	Rapid 6	Blitz 5	Blitz 6	Total Score
G. Kasparov	0	0	0	½	3½
F. Caruana	2	2	1	½	14½

W. So	1	2	½	1	13
V. Topalov	1	0	½	0	5

L. Dominguez	2	0	1	½	7
P. Svidler	0	2	0	½	11

H. Nakamura	1	2	½	1	8½
L. Aronian	1	0	½	0	9½

Day 4
	Position: BBRQKNRN				Position: NBBRKRNQ
	Blitz 7	Blitz 8	Blitz 9	Blitz 10	Blitz 11	Blitz 12	Blitz 13	Blitz 14	Total Score
G. Kasparov	1	0	0	½	1	0	1	0	7
F. Caruana	0	1	1	½	0	1	0	1	19

W. So	½	1	1	½	1	0	½	½	18
V. Topalov	½	0	0	½	0	1	½	½	8

L. Dominguez	1	0	0	½	½	0	1	½	10½
P. Svidler	0	1	1	½	½	1	0	½	15½

H. Nakamura	1	1	1	½	½	1	1	0	14½
L. Aronian	0	0	0	½	½	0	0	1	11½

View Photo Galleries

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

View Video Gallery

The Players

Additional Info

Levon Aronian

Invitational Rating: 2778

Hikaru Nakamura

Invitational Rating: 2798

Peter Svidler

Invitational Rating: 2742

Leinier Dominquez

Invitational Rating: 2755

Veselin Topalov

Invitational Rating: 2728

Wesley So

Invitational Rating: 2782

Garry Kasparov

Invitational Rating: 2685

Fabiano Caruana

Invitational Rating: 2794

Schedule

Day	Date	Time	Event
Monday	2 September	12:00 PM	Draw for Position
		1:00 PM	Rapid Game 1
		2:30 PM	Rapid Game 2
		4:00 PM	Blitz Game 1
		4:30 PM	Blitz Game 2
Tuesday	3 September	12:00 PM	Draw for Position
		1:00 PM	Rapid Game 3
		2:30 PM	Rapid Game 4
		4:00 PM	Blitz Game 3
		4:30 PM	Blitz Game 4
Wednesday	4 September	12:00 PM	Draw for Position
		1:00 PM	Rapid Game 5
		2:30 PM	Rapid Game 6
		4:00 PM	Blitz Game 5
		4:30 PM	Blitz Game 6
Thursday	5 September	12:30 PM	Draw for Position
		1:00 PM	Blitz Game 7
		1:30 PM	Blitz Game 8
		2:00 PM	Blitz Game 9
		2:30 PM	Blitz Game 10
		3:00 PM	Draw for Position
		3:30 PM	Blitz Game 11
		4:00 PM	Blitz Game 12
		4:30 PM	Blitz Game 13
		5:00 PM	Blitz Game 14

Regulations

Format Summary

The Champions Showdown is a series of four matches from September 2^nd through the 5^th. The players will face each other in a series of Fischer Random games at rapid and blitz time controls.

Fischer Random

Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random Chess, is a variant of the game in which the starting row of pieces is randomized. In so doing, players may not rely on memorization and computer analysis to play their game.

In the Champions Showdown, each round will begin with the same starting position on all boards, and new positions will be drawn after every fourth game according to the Schedule of Events. If the standard starting position is randomly selected, it shall be discarded and a new position shall be drawn.

Positions will be drawn in the playing hall. Once drawn, players will have time to prepare, but must remain in the playing hall. Players may have a second to assist, but may not use electronic devices such as computers or phones. The Chess Club’s video production team will have the right to record players during their preparation and may use that content on the show.

Prompt Arrival: Players are expected to arrive promptly each day. Players not at their board at the beginning of each round may receive a fine of $1,000 to be deducted from their prize for each occurrence. Players more than 10 (ten) minutes late for a round may forfeit that round. Players who withdraw or forfeit a game may not receive any prize money.
No Cell Phones: No cell phones or other electronic devices shall be allowed in the tournament area. Any violation of this policy will result in a fine of $500 to be deducted from Player’s prize for each occurrence. In addition to the fine, a violation involving a cell phone or other electronic device that emits any noise during a game shall result in forfeiture of that game. If a violation occurs in subsequent games, the same penalties shall apply.
Time Controls & Scoring:
- Six (6) rapid games at G/30 with a 10-second delay. Each rapid game is worth 2 points.
- Fourteen (14) blitz games at G/5 with a 5-second delay. Each blitz game is worth 1 point.
Chief Arbiter Discretion: In the event of an unexpected occurrence, the Chief Arbiter reserves the right to make all decisions in conjunction with or on behalf of the CHESS CLUB.
Tied Players: All prizes will be divided evenly among all tied players.
Regulations: Where not otherwise specified, the event shall be governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess.