Journey to the End of the Night

6th Chess World Cup 2015
Baku, Azerbaijan, 10 September – 5 October 2015

“In a week’s time, I fly to Baku”, Armenian Grandmaster Levon Grigori Aronian said in an interview after his glaring performance at Saint Louis. “Unfortunately, there is little we chessplayers can do to help resolve the conflict between our countries. But musicians, artists travel to Azerbaijan as people, promoting peace, and I will try to follow their example. I will try to show that I have respect for our neighbouring country, try to show my best chess and give pleasure to the home fans”. 128 of the world’s top players – except Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand but including both contenders to the crown of Chess Queen Mariya Muzychuk and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – to compete for prize money and, most importantly, to qualify for the 2016 Candidates Tournament.

Dancers take part in the opening ceremony of the European Games in Baku, which have attracted criticism over human rights concerns. Photo: Getty Images.