The Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is pleased to announce the list of players that have been invited to participate as full tour participants for the 2018 GCT.

The 2018 GCT event dates and tour point regulations have also now been finalized and are detailed below.

A total of 10 players have been offered full tour contracts for the 2018 tour. The 2018 tour invitees were selected in line with the following process:

1–3 Final 2017 GCT Tour Standings - The top three finishes from the 2017 Grand Chess Tour
4–6 Average of FIDE Classical Ratings - Top 3 (not already selected) based on the average of the 12 monthly FIDE classical ratings for the period from 1 February 2017 until 1 January 2018
7–9 Universal Rating System - Top 3 (not already selected) based on the Universal Rating List as at 1 January 2018
10 GCT Advisory Board Nominee – Selected by the GCT Advisory Board

The players that have been invited to participate in the 2018 Grand Chess Tour according to the above process are as follows:

GM Magnus Carlsen (NOR) – 1st place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) – 2nd place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
GM Levon Aronian (ARM) – 3rd place, 2017 Grand Chess Tour
GM Fabiano Caruana (USA) – 1st Average FIDE Classic Rating
GM Wesley So (USA) – 2nd Average FIDE Classic Rating
GM Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) – 3rd Average FIDE Classic Rating
GM Hikaru Nakamura (USA) – 1st Universal Rating System
GM Alexander Grischuk (RUS) – 2nd Universal Rating System
GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) – 3rd Universal Rating System
GM Viswanathan Anand (IND) – GCT Advisory Board Nominee

GM Viswanathan Anand was selected by the GCT Advisory Board after taking account of his status as a former World Champion and as the reigning World Rapid Chess Champion. GM Anand was also ranked 9th per the Average FIDE Classical Ratings and 11th according to the URS™ rating list as at 1 January 2018.

2018 Tour Dates

The dates for the 2018 Grand Chess Tour events will be as follows:

Your Next Move GCT (Rapid & Blitz)
June 10–17, 2018 | Brussels-Leuven, Belgium

Paris GCT (Rapid & Blitz)
June 17–26, 2018 | Paris, France

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz (Rapid & Blitz)
August 9–16, 2018 | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Sinquefield Cup (Classical)
August 16–29, 2018 | Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

The 2018 London Chess Classic & GCT Tour Finals will take place on dates still to be confirmed during the period between December 10, 2018, and December 21, 2018, in London, UK.