Tour final with three players in Oslo

The Final of the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour on 25 September to 4 October cannot be held as hoped over-the-board in San Francisco. Still, three of the ten qualified players, world champion Magnus Carlsen, Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Anish Giri, will not compete from their home but from the main production studio in Oslo, giving the $300,000-event a hybrid element. Out of the first ten in the standings, Ian Nepomniachtchi bowed out to concentrate on his preparation for the world championship. His place went to the 12th in the standings, Shakriyar Mamedyarov.