FIDE Grand Prix - Sochi 2008--second in a series of six tournaments

The second tournament of the FIDE Grand Prix 2008/9 will take place five days from today, 30th July - 15th August in a Russian sea resort - Sochi. Magnus Carlsen, the first series co-winner will be out, that's understandable since he is currently campaigning in 41st Biel Chess Festival of which he is currently sharing the lead with Evgeney Alekseev. Newly crowned 2008 Dortmund king Peter Leko also begged out for the tourney but the seemingly omnipresent and one of my personal chess hero, Vassily Ivanchuk, will again take no chances to scribble the Grand Prix to his long resume of tournaments he take part with. Radjabov, Kamsky, Karjakin and Gelfand are some of the big names who will also see action. The pride of Arab chess, Qatari GM Mohamad Al Modiahki competing in perhaps the biggest tournament he ever join in, is also line up to mix it up with the big guys.

Of course I'm definitely rooting for "big Chucky" here. Though I've got a feeling that Levon Aronian, Sergei Karjakin and Kamsky could be the surprise winners. Aronian is well rested and well prepared. While Karjakin looks very sharp and fully rejuvenated in his recent tourneys especially in his demolition of former World title contender Nigel Short in a series of rapid matches. Kamsky should win at least a major tournament before his face off with Topalov in FIDE championship match. He must really show something. Now pick your bet from the names below.


Participants:

Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR 2781)
Teimour Radjabov (AZE 2744)
Peter Svidler (RUS 2738)
Levon Aronian (ARM 2737)
Alexander Grischuk (RUS 2728)
Sergey Karjakin (UKR 2727)
Gata Kamsky (USA 2723)
Boris Gelfand (ISR 2720)
Vugar Gashimov (AZE 2717)
Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS 2709)
Wang Yue (CHN 2704)
Ivan Cheparinov (BUL 2687)
David Navarra (CZE 2646)
Mohamad Al Modiahki (QAT 2556)