This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 8, 2013 - If you happen to be in St. Louis in September, you have the opportunity to breathe the same rarified air as four of the world’s most brilliant minds. If you’re lucky, a little of their genius might rub off on you.
The world’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked chess players, Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian, and the U.S.’s No. 1 and No. 2, Hikaru Nakamura and Gata Kamsky will compete for the Sinquefield Cup at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis. The tournament, which runs from Sept. 9-15, features a total prize fund of $170,000.
The event is a six-round, double round-robin tournament, so the players get to play both white and black against the same opponent. The quality of the games will be of the highest level as all four players are ranked in the top 20 in the world. Three of the participants (Magnus excluded) will be coming straight from Norway after completion of World Cup, so they should all be in top form.
The Sinquefield Cup should also display lots of fighting chess throughout the week, as the playing style of the participants is completely different from each other. Because the event is just six rounds long, the players will have to be sharp straight from round one as even one lackadaisical move can completely change the final standings.
The event is going to be looked upon closely by chess enthusiasts all over the globe. All eyes will be on Carlsen as this will be his final tournament before he starts preparing for the World Championship match to be held in Chennai, India, in November. Carlsen will be taking on the current world champion, and the national hero of my country, Viswanathan Anand of India.
The Sinquefield Cup is going to be an important event in American chess history. It is arguably the strongest tournament ever held in the United States, and it has already created lot of hype in the media and world chess circles. This event could also ignite the passion for the game to the thousands kids who are learning the game through the chess-in-schools program conducted by the CCSCSL. The Cup might also create more interest for chess at the collegiate level, inspiring more universities to start their own programs along the lines of Webster and Lindenwood Universities.
On a personal level, I am really excited about this event as I get the opportunity to watch the games of these stalwarts live! Another reason I am so excited about this tournament is that I get to see Carlsen much before my Indian friends can catch a glimpse of him in Chennai during the World Championship match.
Come to St. Louis to watch these superstars in action. And trust me, when you go back to your place, you will be a much smarter person!
Priyadharshan Kannappan is an International Master originally from Madurai, India. He is entering his sophomore year at Lindenwood University where he studies marketing and is a member of its chess team. Last year, Priyadharshan played for the St. Louis Arch Bishops of the U.S. Chess League (USCL) where he won Rookie of the Year and was named the 2013 USCL MVP.