The success in selecting the invited players for each edition -and there are already 37- is among the hallmarks of the Masterful City of León. One of the great sensations of this year, the Indian Arjun Erigaisi, 4th in the world at 20 years old, will face the local hero, Jaime Santos, winner in 2023, on Saturday in the 2nd semi-final. Before, on Friday, two former champions of the world in another quick four-game duel, the Indian Viswanathan Anand and the Bulgarian Véselin Topálov.
León is not just another city for the five-time champion Anand, who remains in an astonishing eleventh place in the world at the age of 54: “It is the 15th time I have played this tournament, which I have won nine times. Rounding it off with a tenth win would be magnificent,” he said today after the draw for the semifinals. But his rival is also motivated, for similar reasons: “For me it is also a very special event because the first time I competed here, 31 years ago, was also my debut in the elite, and against none other than Anatoli Karpov,” he said. remembered the Bulgarian, who has lived in Salamanca for many years and is also very senior in the elite: 19th at 49 years old.
Erigaisi completes the Indian aces poker with Anand, Dommaraju Gukesh, 4th in the world and brand new winner of the Candidates Tournament last April at 17 years old, and Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, 8th in the rankings at 18. Obviously, Jaime Santos starts as a theoretical victim in that duel, but his long experience on the stage of the Auditorium – where he already competed in the Young Stars Tournament when he was a child – and his impeccable victory in the 2023 edition accredit him as very capable of knocking down anyone.
As always, the parallel activities are very careful: an open tournament and another lightning tournament, a round table on the history of the tournament and exhibition of Topálov’s simultaneous games. Two have already been held: the eleventh edition of the Chess and Finance Competition and the second Chess, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Conference. In addition, various streets, squares and strategic points in the city will be decorated with giant pieces and boards, made from recycled tires. Chess is already part of León’s identifying features.
to weekly newsletter ‘Wonderful play’, by Leontxo García
