Super-tournament

Super-tournament

Definition

A super-tournament (often written without the hyphen as “supertournament”) is an informal term for an elite, usually invitational chess event featuring a compact field of the world’s strongest grandmasters. While there is no official FIDE definition, super-tournaments are commonly associated with very high average participant ratings—often FIDE “Category 20” and above (average 2701+).

FIDE tournament “categories” are based on the average rating of all players, in 25-point bands starting at 2251–2275 for Category 1. For example:

• Category 18: average 2676–2700
• Category 20: average 2701–2725
• Category 23: average 2776–2800

In modern usage, “super-tournament” implies a curated lineup of top-20 (often top-10) stars, significant sponsorship, global coverage, and professional organization.

How the term is used in chess

Players, commentators, and media use “super-tournament” to label elite closed events—typically round-robins or small double round-robins—whose average rating and prestige set them apart from regular closed tournaments or strong open events. You’ll hear phrases like, “He’s playing the Wijk aan Zee super-tournament,” or “Her invitation to a top super-tournament confirms her status among the elite.”

Although many official events (like the Candidates Tournament) are super-elite, “super-tournament” more often refers to high-profile invitationals on the professional circuit.

Historical background

Before Elo ratings, exceptionally strong all-play-all events like Hastings 1895, New York 1924, and the AVRO 1938 tournament (which gathered essentially the world’s top eight) were forerunners of the modern super-tournament. After the Elo system and FIDE categories became standard, the term gained a more rating-centered aura.

Late-20th-century classics such as Linares (1988–2010) cemented the idea of a regular tour of super-tournaments. In the 21st century, events like Tata Steel Masters (Wijk aan Zee), Dortmund, Tal Memorial (Moscow), Bilbao Masters, London Chess Classic, Norway Chess, and the Sinquefield Cup have defined the elite calendar.

Strategic and theoretical significance

Super-tournaments are where opening theory is stress-tested at the very highest level. New ideas in the Berlin (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6), the Sveshnikov (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5), and countless other lines often debut or are refined here. Because every opponent is world-class, practical strategy includes:

• Extensive home preparation, often aided by top engines and seconds.
• Risk management with Black (solid structures, deep drawing resources) and selective ambition with White.
• Psychological and match-up nuances—choosing lines tailored to a specific rival’s style.
• Stamina management across long events with rest days and demanding press duties.

Results at super-tournaments influence rating lists, invitations, sponsorships, and even the narrative of world championship cycles.

Typical formats and scoring

• Format: Most are closed round-robin or double round-robin events with 8–14 players; some feature novel formats or a mix of classical and rapid/blitz.
• Time control: Traditionally classical; some events add rapid/blitz tie-breaks or companion events.
• Scoring: Standard (1 win, 0.5 draw, 0 loss) is common; some used “Bilbao” 3-1-0 scoring to encourage fighting chess.
• Draw rules: Many adopt “Sofia Rules” (no early draw offers) to reduce short, non-combative draws.
• Tie-breaks: Sonneborn–Berger, head-to-head, number of wins, rapid/blitz playoffs, or Armageddon games (notably in Norway Chess since 2019).

Notable examples and highlights

• AVRO 1938: A landmark pre-war event featuring Alekhine, Capablanca, Euwe, Botvinnik, Keres, Reshevsky, Fine, and Flohr—often cited as a prototype super-tournament.
• Linares (1988–2010): Nicknamed “the Wimbledon of chess.” Garry Kasparov dominated the 1990s; many decisive theoretical battles and immortal games were played here.
• Tata Steel Masters (Wijk aan Zee): Annual elite fixture since the mid-20th century. “Kasparov vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999” is among the most celebrated attacking games ever.
• Dortmund Sparkassen: Long-running German elite event with multiple Kramnik triumphs.
• Tal Memorial (Moscow): A tribute to Mikhail Tal, famous for creative, combative chess.
• Bilbao Masters Final: Popularized 3-1-0 scoring and anti-draw rules.
• London Chess Classic: A key stop of the Grand Chess Tour in the 2010s.
• Sinquefield Cup (St. Louis): In 2014, achieved the then-highest average rating in history (Category 23, ~2802). Fabiano Caruana started 7/7, defeating, among others, Magnus Carlsen.
• Norway Chess: Features the world’s elite, experimenting with Armageddon tie-breaks after drawn classical games.

Famous games played in super-tournaments

Kasparov vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999: Often called “Kasparov’s Immortal,” this Sicilian masterpiece featured a queen sacrifice and a king hunt across the board, epitomizing high-risk, high-reward creativity at a super-tournament.

Caruana vs. Carlsen, Sinquefield Cup 2014: Part of Caruana’s astonishing 7/7 start, this win in a Queen’s Gambit Declined set the tone for one of the greatest tournament performances of the modern era.

Botvinnik vs. Capablanca, AVRO 1938: A positional model game, signaling the rise of the Soviet school and Botvinnik’s ascent toward the world title.

Interesting facts and anecdotes

• Linares was dubbed the “Wimbledon of chess,” a phrase that helped popularize the idea of a prestige circuit of super-tournaments.
• The introduction of “Sofia Rules” (no early draw offers) at events like M-Tel Masters influenced many super-tournaments to promote more fighting games.
• Some super-tournaments experimented with 3-1-0 scoring (Bilbao system) to reward wins more heavily and discourage risk-free drawing strategies.
• Grand Chess Tour events (Sinquefield Cup, London Chess Classic, and others) aggregated several super-tournaments into a season-long circuit with overall standings.

Common misconceptions

• “Any closed event is a super-tournament.” Not necessarily—strength and field quality matter, not just the format.
• “Super-tournament” equals “official FIDE event.” Many are independent invitationals; the term is descriptive, not official.
• “Strong opens are super-tournaments.” Strong open events with many GMs are sometimes called “super-opens,” but the term “super-tournament” usually implies a closed elite field.

Related terms

• Elo rating: The rating system underpinning tournament “categories.”
• round-robin: The standard format for most super-tournaments.
• Sofia Rules: Regulations restricting early draw offers.
• Bilbao scoring: 3-1-0 scoring system used in some elite events.
• Armageddon: A decisive tie-break game format used by some modern super-tournaments.
• Candidates Tournament: An official world championship qualifier, often super-elite in strength.

Example usage

“After tying for first at the Sinquefield Cup, she earned invitations to two more super-tournaments on the Grand Chess Tour.”