Thessaloniki Grand-Prix 2013 first round

Kamsky-Dominguez
(Photo taken from the official site)

Already the first round showed that all players try to win as there were no games even remotely resembling no will to fight! Three wins and three draws and all wins were of white!

Results of the first round

GM Topalov Veselin 2793 ½ – ½ GM Grischuk Alexander 2779
GM Kamsky Gata 2741 1 – 0 GM Dominguez Perez Leinier 2723
GM Ponomariov Ruslan 2742 ½ – ½ GM Caruana Fabiano 2774
GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2755 ½ – ½ GM Morozevich Alexander 2760
GM Svidler Peter 2769 1 – 0 GM Bacrot Etienne 2725
GM Kasimdzhanov Rustam 2699 1 – 0 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2775

Pairings of the 2nd round

GM Grischuk Alexander 2779 – GM Nakamura Hikaru 2775
GM Bacrot Etienne 2725 – GM Kasimdzhanov Rustam 2699
GM Morozevich Alexander 2760 – GM Svidler Peter 2769
GM Caruana Fabiano 2774 – GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2755
GM Dominguez Perez Leinier 2723 – GM Ponomariov Ruslan 2742
GM Topalov Veselin 2793 – GM Kamsky Gata 2741

Official Site.

Thessaloniki Grand-Prix 2013

This very prestigious and strong event started yesterday in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Opening ceremony during which there was a drawing of lots

Opening ceremony
(Photo taken from the official site)

Technical meeting was also held yesterday.

Technical meeting
(photo taken from the official site)

Games will be played today at 2pm local time. Participants are:

Bacrot, Etienne FRA GM 2725
Caruana, Fabiano ITA GM 2774
Dominguez Perez, Leinier CUB GM 2723
Grischuk, Alexander RUS GM 2779
Ivanchuk, Vassily UKR GM 2755
Kamsky, Gata USA GM 2741
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam UZB GM 2699
Morozevich, Alexander RUS GM 2760
Nakamura, Hikaru USA GM 2775
Ponomariov, Ruslan UKR GM 2742
Svidler, Peter RUS GM 2769
Topalov, Veselin BUL GM 2793

Radjabov was supposed to play in this tournament but was recently replaced by Bacrot.

Pairings of the first round

GM Topalov Veselin 2793 – GM Grischuk Alexander 2779
GM Kamsky Gata 2741 – GM Dominguez Perez Leinier 2723
GM Ponomariov Ruslan 2742 – GM Caruana Fabiano 2774
GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2755 – GM Morozevich Alexander 2760
GM Svidler Peter 2769 – GM Bacrot Etienne 2725
GM Kasimdzhanov Rustam 2699 – GM Nakamura Hikaru 2775

Official Site.