Round 4 pairings. Any predictions in Caruana-Carlsen? #STLRapidBlitz #GrandChessTou

The final list of participants and the pairings for the 2019 FIDE World Cup players are published:

The youngest participant of 2019 #FIDEWorldCup is 14-year-old GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov 🇰🇿 (rated 2594). His first-round opponent is 2017 European champion Maxim Matlakov (2710).

Another prodigy GM Nihal Sarin 🇮🇳 (2610) is two months older.

The oldest player of 2019 FIDE World Cup is 53-year-old GM Essam El-Gindy 🇪🇬 (rated 2431). In the first round, he will face world's #8 Levon Aronian.

Players from 47 countries will participate in the 2019 #FIDEWorldCup. Russia has the biggest representation with 28 participants, India - 10, China - 7, USA - 6.

In the absence of Carlsen and Caruana, the rating favorite is Ding Liren (2805).

St. Louis Rapid and Blitz 2019 Day 2: Carlsen loses twice

https://en.chessbase.com/post/st-louis-rapid-and-blitz-2019-inaugurated

Final moments of Caruana-Carlsen #STLRapidBlitz

Caruana: "Regardless of where the win is a win against Magnus is something special"

In a very uncharacteristic fashion, Magnus Carlsen seems surprised by Levon Aronian's 19...Qe7 and, superficially, goes in for the obvious 20.Bh7+ Kh8 21.Nh4. But Aronian had seen 23...Re4+! from afar. On a better day, Carlsen spots these things even in a banter blitz session.

Levon Aronian after beating Magnus: "Whenever I see the cheapo in a position I sit there and pray! ...You have to mix bad moves and good moves, that's what Larsen said, and I managed to do that perfectly - that's my secret" :)

Aronian on Carlsen: "You can't always maintain your form. He was doing it perfectly and now it's not the end of the world - he can still win the tournament - but this is the sign that maybe it won't go as smooth for the rest of the year"

Aronian's 4 wins in #STLRapidBlitz has made him gain 55 rating points and jump 31 places on the 2700 chess
rapid list, but he is *still* only 16th. #GrandChessTour