Win or lose World title, Anand will play on: World Champion signs up for London Chess Classic in December

The 5th London Chess Classic has been announced and reigning World Chess Champion Viswanathan has become the first, along with US No. 1 Hikaru Nakamura, to sign up for the event.

Chess in Schools and Communities has announced the 5th London Chess Classic will be held at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington from Saturday 7th December to Sunday 15th December.

Due to a demanding elite-player schedule through 2013 – that includes the World Chess Championship match in Chennai, India between Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen ending on November 26th and the World Team Championship in Antalya, Turkey ending on 6th December – this year the London Classic will feature a world-class Rapid tournament (25 minutes + 10 seconds per move) that will start on Wednesday 11th December and finish on Sunday 15th December.

This will feature a 16-player field split into four groups, with the top two from each group qualifying for the quarter final knockout stages. Scoring will be 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss (Sofia Rules will apply regarding draw offers).

The total prize fund on offer will be €150,000 – the full breakdown being: 1st €50,000; 2nd €25,000; 3rd-4th €12,500; 5th-8th €6,250; 9th-16th €3,125.

Meanwhile, before the World Chess Championship, Nakamura, Carlsen and Aronian are taking part in the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis – one of the strongest tournaments ever to be held in America.

Over the next two weeks, the rest of the field will be announced as player contracts have been signed and approved.

The schools events will be expanded and the festival, with weekenders, FIDE Open, simultaneous displays and lectures will all take place as usual – but look out for what could be a novelty twist to the FIDE Open! The smorgasbord of chess at the London Classic will also include Pro-Celebrity Chess, Blindfold Chess and Chess 960.

Tickets will go on sale in September after the field has been finalised. Tickets will again be free for children. (London Chess Classic 2013: Tournament website)