Topalov invited to Sinquefield Cup, field completed

For more information, please contact:
Brian Jerauld
Communications Specialist
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis
bjerauld@saintlouischessclub.org

2014 Sinquefield Cup Strongest Chess Tournament in History

SAINT LOUIS (July 31, 2014) — The 2014 Sinquefield Cup will be the highest-rated tournament in the history of chess, bringing six of the world’s top-nine Grandmasters together at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

Last year, the inaugural super-tournament thrilled spectators as the strongest chess competition ever held on U.S. soil. For its 2014 encore, beginning August 27 to September 7, the tournament will be the strongest ever held on earth, its six players averaging a historical peak FIDE rating of 2802.

World Champion Magnus Carlsen, winner of the 2013 Sinquefield Cup, will return to defend his title against an expanded field. This year’s prestigious event will award $100,000 to its winner, part of a $315,000 total prize fund.

Returning with Carlsen is Armenia’s Levon Aronian and the United States’ Hikaru Nakamura, respectively the World’s No. 2 and No. 5 players. New challengers to the Sinquefield Cup include Italy’s Fabiano Caruana, Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov and France’s Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

World Rank – Name – Age – Country – Rating

No. 1 Magnus Carlsen 23 Norway 2877
No. 2 Levon Aronian 31 Armenia 2805
No. 3 Fabiano Caruana 22 Italy 2801
No. 5 Hikaru Nakamura 26 U.S.A 2787
No. 8 Veselin Topalov 39 Bulgaria 2772
No. 9 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 23 France 2768

The 2014 Sinquefield Cup will be a six-player, double round-robin tournament, and will be followed by a bonus event titled “Ultimate Moves” to be held through Tuesday, September 9. Ultimate Moves will feature eight teams made up of a GM and an amateur player, where teammates alternate moves. Other special events for spectators are planned, and more details will be released through www.USChessChamps.com.