Nalchik Grand Prix, one of the strongest tourney this year starts today!

We won't see Teimour Radjabov and Wang Yue in Nalchik. These two supposedly the favorites to win the Grand Prix having garnered the most points thus far, Radjabov with 363,33 is occupying the first place in the standings and Wang Yue with a total of 353,33 is on the second spot. Nalchik GP is the strongest compare to its past three series and one of the strongest this year, boasting 11 out of 14 players with 2700+ and with an average rating of 2725. The winner of the Grand Prix series will play in 2011 in the Candidate event of the World Championship Cycle.

The Players

1 Akopian Vladimir Armenia 2696, 2 Alekseev Evgeny Russia 2716, 3 Aronian Levon Armenia 2754, 4 Bacrot Etienne France 2728, 5 Eljanov Pavel Ukraine 2693, 6 Gelfand Boris Israel 2733, 7 Grischuk Alexander Russia 2748, 8 Ivanchuk Vassily Ukraine 2746, 9 Kamsky Gata USA 2720, 10 Karjakin Sergey Ukraine 2721, 11 Kasimdzhanov Rustam Uzbekistan 2695, 12 Leko Peter Hungary 2751, 13 Mamedyarov Shakhriyar Azerbaijan 2725, 14 Svidler Peter Russia 2726

Back to the country, Day 3 of Philippine Inter-Cities and Municipalities chess team championship saw four team sharing the top spot with 10 points after six round: Tagaytay, Mandaluyong, Muntinlupa, FEU-FERN-QC-Inton, Pasig-Marfori. Alcon John Datu scores the biggest upset thus far in the tournament by beating the 3rd rank player in the country, GM John Paul Gomez.

For complete details of the tournament visit Journal.com.ph