P Harikrishna enters FIDE Grand Prix with eye on berth in 2018 Candidates event

Geneva: Indian grandmaster P Harikrishna is all geared up to secure a spot at the 2018 Candidates Tournament as he takes on world’s best in the third leg of the FIDE Grand Prix starting in Geneva on Thursday. The World No 22 will look to bounce back into the Grand Prix Series with improved performances after a long break, post his tied 10th position in Moscow in May. [caption id=“attachment_3779981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of Harikrishna Pentala. Image courtesy: SAI Media via Twitter[/caption] “I had a good rest period after the last Grand Prix in Moscow and since then have been preparing for the leg in Geneva. I’m really excited to be a part of this tournament and will be hoping to put in good performances to up the ante,” Harikrishna said on the sidelines of the glittering opening ceremony in the Swiss city. The playing field will be headed by Armenian, Levon Aronian who recently broke into the 2800+ ELO rating category. The only other participant in the 2800 category is Shahkriyar Mamadeyarov from Azerbaijan. Harikrishna is seeded eighth in the tournament and will be amongst the 12 others players with a rating 2700+ category in a pool of 18 others in this Swiss tournament. Each stage of the tournament also offers a handsome prize money of 130,000 Euros. The third leg of the FIDE Grand Prix is scheduled to start from Thursday and culminate on 15 July.