Bilbao is the largest city in the Spanish Basque region, and although it is often depicted as a big industrial port, in recent years it has diversified. It's most famous building is the Guggenheim Museum seen in the background of some of today's photos.
The Grand Slam Masters takes place in the prestigious Atrio de Alhóndiga Bilbao for the third year running.
This year's Masters began with an additional prelimary section in Shanghai (from the 3rd to the 8th of September). Two players were invited direct to the final: Magnus Carlsen (winner of Wijk aan Zee, Nanjing and Bazna not forgetting the fact that he is World No.1) and Viswanathan Anand (World Champion and No.3 in the world).
The other two had to go through the Semi-Final. Shirov qualified relatively easily whereas it went down to the wire between Aronian and Kramnik, the Russian only making the difference in the Armaggedon Blitz decider.
| Standing | Player | Rating | Age | Country | 1W | 1B | 2W | 2B | 3W | 3B | 4W | 4B | Score (Bilbao) | Score (Standard) | Performance | Rating change (approx) |
| 1 | Alexei Shirov | 2749 | 38 | ESP | X | X | = | = | 1 | = | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4.5/6 | 2955 | +16 |
| 2 | Levon Aronian | 2783 | 28 | ARM | = | = | X | X | 0 | = | = | 1 | 8 | 3/6 | 2751 | -2.5 |
| 3 | Vladimir Kramnik | 2780 | 35 | RUS | = | 0 | = | 1 | X | X | = | = | 6 | 3/6 | 2752 | -2.5 |
| 4 | Wang Hao | 2724 | 21 | CHN | 0 | 0 | 0 | = | = | = | X | X | 2 | 1.5/6 | 2578 | -11 |
The result wasn't as clear-cut as the final table would suggest as, for example, Shirov was in difficulties in both games against Wang Hao.
| Name | Rating | Country | Blitz 1 | Blitz 2 | Armaggedon | Total |
| Levon Aronian | 2783 | ARM | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Vladimir Kramnik | 2780 | RUS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
The double-round-robin has the particularity (see the table above) that a win is awarded three points and a draw only one. Another being that 'draws by mutual agreement' require the acceptance of the arbiter.
I consider these modifications slightly artifical but if they help to generate spectacular chess, why not?
Pairings for the first round on Saturday the 9th are as follows:
| Name | Rating | Country | Result | Name | Rating | Country | Opening |
| Alexei Shirov | 2749 | ESP | - | Viswanathan Anand | 2800 | IND | |
| Vladimir Kramnik | 2780 | RUS | - | Magnus Carlsen | 2826 | NOR |
Pairings for the second round on Sunday 10/10/10(!):
| Name | Rating | Country | Result | Name | Rating | Country | Opening |
| Magnus Carlsen | 2826 | NOR | - | Viswanathan Anand | 2800 | IND | |
| Vladimir Kramnik | 2780 | RUS | - | Alexei Shirov | 2749 | ESP |
So Kramnik starts with a double White and Anand with a double Black.
The time limit will be:
90' for 40 moves and then 60' plus an increment of 10" for the remainder of the game.
Tie-breaks (in the case that two players finish on the same number of points):
A two-game Blitz match (4' plus 3" increment) with the possibility of an 'armageddon' game (5' for White, 4' for Black who gets draw odds) if necessary.
For more information go to the
There will be a rest day on Tuesday the 12th, but otherwise you will be able to watch the games live each day from the following times:
4.30 pm (Bilbao, Paris)
3.30 pm (London)
6.30 pm (Moscow)
11.30 am (New York)
8.30 am (Los Angeles)
