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The FIDE Grand Prix 2014-15 was a series of four chess tournaments that formed part of the qualification cycle for the World Chess Championship 2016. Fabiano Caruana finished first, and Hikaru Nakamura second in the overall standings. Both therefore qualified for the 2016 Candidates Tournament.
In contrast to the two previous Grand Prix cycles the number of tournaments was decreased from six to four and players playing just three tournaments. As a result there is no more strike result, but each tournament result counts toward the total points. Sixteen players were selected to compete in the tournaments.
Each tournament is a 12-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: 170 Grand Prix points for first place, 140 for second place, 110 for third place, and then 90 down to 10 points by steps of 10. In case of a tie in points the Grand Prix points are shared evenly by the tied players.
The Grand Prix consists of 16 players. FIDE announced 11 qualifiers as per regulations, with four more nominees from the organisers and one from the FIDE President to be announced at a later date.
Five original invitees declined to participate: Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov. The first four of these had similarly declined to participate in the FIDE Grand Prix 2012-13. In a later interview, Aronian said "I found it quite insulting to compete in a tournament with the first prize half as large as my participation fee [for] almost any other tournament [at] that time." Moreover, there was no prize money for overall standings, as there had been in previous Grand Prixes.
All five Grand Prix replacements were determined by the rating list as per regulations.
The final list of players was announced on 9 September 2014. Iranian player Ehsan Ghaem-Maghami was replaced by Georgian Baadur Jobava after the third stop was moved from Tehran to Tbilisi.
| Invitee | Country | Qualifying method |
|---|---|---|
| Dmitry Andreikin | Russia | Chess World Cup 2013 |
| Evgeny Tomashevsky | Russia | |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | France | |
| Fabiano Caruana | Italy | FIDE rating list (from May 2013 to April 2014) |
| Alexander Grischuk | Russia | |
| Hikaru Nakamura | United States | |
| Sergey Karjakin | Russia | |
| Leinier Domínguez | Cuba | |
| Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Azerbaijan | |
| Boris Gelfand | Israel | |
| Peter Svidler | Russia | |
| Dmitry Jakovenko | Russia | organiser's nominees |
| Teimour Radjabov | Azerbaijan | |
| Rustam Kasimdzhanov | Uzbekistan | |
| Baadur Jobava | Georgia | |
| Anish Giri | Netherlands | FIDE President's nominee |
The prize money is €120,000 per single Grand Prix (down from €170,000) and there is no financial bonus for the overall standings (€420,000 last in 2012-13).
| Place | Single Grand Prix event | Grand Prix points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | €20,000 | 170 |
| 2 | €15,000 | 140 |
| 3 | €13,000 | 110 |
| 4 | €11,000 | 90 |
| 5 | €10,000 | 80 |
| 6 | €9,500 | 70 |
| 7 | €9,000 | 60 |
| 8 | €8,500 | 50 |
| 9 | €7,500 | 40 |
| 10 | €6,500 | 30 |
| 11 | €5,500 | 20 |
| 12 | €4,500 | 10 |
With the objective of determining qualifiers to play in the Candidates 2016, and in the case that two or more players have equal cumulative points at the top, the following criteria were utilized to decide the overall Series winner and other overall placings:
The third stop was initially to be played in Tehran, Iran but a move was announced in October. The fourth stop moved from Moscow to Khanty-Mansiysk.
| No. | Host city | Date | Winners | Points (win/draw/loss) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baku, Azerbaijan | 1 - 15 October 2014 | Fabiano Caruana (ITA) Boris Gelfand (ISR) |
6.5/11 (+4=5-2), 6.5/11 (+3=7-1) |
| 2 | Tashkent, Uzbekistan | 20 October - 3 November 2014 | Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) | 7/11 (+3=8-0) |
| 3 | Tbilisi, Georgia | 14 - 28 February 2015 | Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) | 8/11 (+5=6-0) |
| 4 | Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia | 14 - 26 May 2015 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) Fabiano Caruana (ITA) Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) |
6½/11 (+2=9-0) 6½/11 (+3=7-1) 6½/11 (+4=5-2) |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | SB | TPR | GP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (ITA) | 2844 | * | ½ | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 6½ | 155 | ||
| 2 | Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 2748 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6½ | 155 | ||
| 3 | Sergey Karjakin (RUS) | 2767 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6 | 82 | ||
| 4 | Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 2797 | 1 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6 | 82 | ||
| 5 | Peter Svidler (RUS) | 2732 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6 | 82 | ||
| 6 | Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) | 2701 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6 | 82 | ||
| 7 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 2764 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 6 | 82 | ||
| 8 | Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | 2726 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 50 | ||
| 9 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 2764 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 35 | ||
| 10 | Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB) | 2706 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 5 | 35 | ||
| 11 | Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) | 2722 | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | 4½ | 20 | ||
| 12 | Leinier Dominguez (CUB) | 2751 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 3 | 10 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | SB | TPR | GP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) | 2722 | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 7 | 170 | ||
| 2 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 2764 | 0 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6½ | 125 | ||
| 3 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 2764 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 125 | ||
| 4 | Baadur Jobava (GEO) | 2717 | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6 | 75 | ||
| 5 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | 2757 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 6 | 75 | ||
| 6 | Sergey Karjakin (RUS) | 2767 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 6 | 75 | ||
| 7 | Fabiano Caruana (ITA) | 2844 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6 | 75 | ||
| 8 | Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | 2726 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 50 | ||
| 9 | Anish Giri (NED) | 2768 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5 | 40 | ||
| 10 | Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 2747 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 4½ | 30 | ||
| 11 | Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB) | 2706 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 3½ | 15 | ||
| 12 | Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 2748 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 3½ | 15 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | SB | TPR | GP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) | 2716 | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 8 | 170 | ||
| 2 | Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 2733 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 6½ | 140 | ||
| 3 | Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | 2731 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6 | 110 | ||
| 4 | Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB) | 2705 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 75 | ||
| 5 | Leinier Dominguez (CUB) | 2726 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 75 | ||
| 6 | Anish Giri (NED) | 2797 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 75 | ||
| 7 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 2759 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 75 | ||
| 8 | Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 2810 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5 | 40 | ||
| 9 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | 2775 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5 | 40 | ||
| 10 | Baadur Jobava (GEO) | 2696 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 5 | 40 | ||
| 11 | Peter Svidler (RUS) | 2739 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 1 | 4½ | 20 | ||
| 12 | Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) | 2737 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | * | 4 | 10 |
| Player | Rating | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total | SB | TPR | GP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 2738 | * | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 140 | ||
| 2 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 2799 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6½ | 140 | ||
| 3 | Fabiano Caruana (ITA) | 2803 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 6½ | 140 | ||
| 4 | Leinier Domínguez (CUB) | 2734 | 1 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 6 | 85 | ||
| 5 | Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 2744 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 6 | 85 | ||
| 6 | Peter Svidler (RUS) | 2734 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 55 | ||
| 7 | Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 2780 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5½ | 55 | ||
| 8 | Anish Giri (NED) | 2776 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5½ | 55 | ||
| 9 | Sergey Karjakin (RUS) | 2753 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5½ | 55 | ||
| 10 | Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) | 2749 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | 0 | * | 1 | ½ | 5 | 30 | ||
| 11 | Baadur Jobava (GEO) | 2699 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | * | ½ | 4 | 20 | ||
| 12 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | 2754 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 3½ | 10 |
Grand Prix points in bold indicate a tournament win.
| Player | FIDE rating May 2015 |
Baku | Tashkent | Tbilisi | Khanty- Mansiysk |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fabiano Caruana (ITA) | 2803 | 155 | 75 | 140 | 370 | |
| 2 | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 2799 | 82 | 125 | 140 | 347 | |
| 3 | Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) | 2738 | 30 | 140 | 140 | 310 | |
| 4 | Evgeny Tomashevsky (RUS) | 2749 | 82 | 170 | 30 | 282 | |
| 5 | Boris Gelfand (ISR) | 2744 | 155 | 15 | 85 | 255 | |
| 6 | Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) | 2735 | 35 | 125 | 75 | 235 | |
| 7 | Sergey Karjakin (RUS) | 2753 | 82 | 75 | 55 | 212 | |
| 8 | Teimour Radjabov (AZE) | 2738 | 50 | 50 | 110 | 210 | |
| 9 | Dmitry Andreikin (RUS) | 2723 | 20 | 170 | 10 | 200 | |
| 10 | Alexander Grischuk (RUS) | 2780 | 82 | 40 | 55 | 177 | |
| 11 | Leinier Domínguez (CUB) | 2734 | 10 | 75 | 85 | 170 | |
| 12 | Anish Giri (NED) | 2776 | 40 | 75 | 55 | 170 | |
| 13 | Peter Svidler (RUS) | 2734 | 82 | 20 | 55 | 157 | |
| 14 | Baadur Jobava (GEO) | 2699 | 75 | 40 | 20 | 135 | |
| 15 | Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | 2754 | 75 | 40 | 10 | 125 | |
| 16 | Rustam Kasimdzhanov (UZB) | 2715 | 35 | 15 | 75 | 125 |