Chess (December): Magnus unofficially surpasses Kasparov, leads in London

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update Monday, December 10: Magnus wins London Classic, sets new rating record

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 01:25 AM - Edit history (1)

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[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
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Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian grandmaster who celebrated his 22nd birthday less than two weeks ago, won the London Chess Classic today with 18 points out of a possible 24 and will officially become the highest-rated player of all time when FIDE releases its January ratings in three weeks.

Magnus won five games and drew three without a loss in the event for a tournament performace rating just under the rarely achieved 3000 and a career rating now unofficially standing at 2861, surpassing Garry Kasparov's all time record of 2851 achieved in 1999 and 2000. Since the rating is based on a mathematical formula, there is no way that Magnus' rating of 2861 will not be recognized as official in January.

Magnus achieved a tournament performance rating over 3000 once, in 2009 at a tournament in Nanjing, China.

Magnus drew his game today with the reigning world champion, Vishy Anand. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, the only player who entered the last round with a chamce to catch Magnus, also drew his game against British Adams to finish second with 16 points in the football style scoring (three points for a win, one for a draw) used in London. Reigning American champion Hikaru Nakamura took advantage of a terrible blunder by British GM Luke McShane to gain victory in the only decisive game in the last round, finished tied for third with Mr. Adams at 13 points.