Radjabov, Cheparinov and Grischuk are leading the pack into the first rest day. Sofar none of players is standing out, neither in positive or negative sense. OK, perhaps I should mention Al Modiahki (by far the lowest ranked participant) as a positive surprise. He is on 50% which is much higher than he could statistically expect. I've noticed that he tends to play rare fairly unexplored opening lines. Sofar he was succesfull with this strategy. Also there is a curiosity, Al modiahki's second is Viktor Bolognan who is 130 points higher rated than Al Modiahki I don't remember anyone having a higher ranked second before.
Cheparinov is leading into the second rest day, but is closely followed by two Baku winners - Wang Yue and Vugar Gashimov. If those two continue this way, they will be serious contenders for winning the overall Grand Prix. All in all, the whole field is still very close - first 10 still have a realistic chance to win this tournament. Our Qatarian friend took a beating in the second section (scoring 0.5/4) but his overall performance is still slighrly better than his rating would sugest.
Aronian wins the Grand Prix tournament in Sochi and receives 180 GP points, Radjabov is clear second and gets 150 GP points, while Wang Yue and Kamsky share the third place (both get 120 GP points, but only Wang gets the throphy).
Cheparinov had a really bad last section (0.5/4) and droped from 1st place to 11th
Here are the Grand Prix standings after two tournaments. Of course the table is distorted because some played two tournaments, some played only one, while Leko and Pelletier didn't even begin their Grand Prix campaign yet.
Also note, that only the best three results will count, so each player can allow himself one bad tournament.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: ebutaljib,
I don't remember anyone having a higher ranked second before.
