The Grand Chess Tour 2018 was a circuit of chess tournaments, held from June to December 2018. It was the fourth edition of Grand Chess Tour. The series consisted of four events, including 1 classical and 3 fast chess tournaments, as well as Tour Final in London. It was won by Hikaru Nakamura.

Format The tour consisted of four events, including three rapid and blitz and one classical event, and concluded in Tour Finals in London, where four top scorers qualified. Each event consisted of 9 regular tour participants and 1 wildcard. Scoring system looked as follows: {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" ! Place !! Points (classical) !! Points (rapid/blitz) |- | 1st || 18/20* || 12/13* |- | 2nd || 15 || 10 |- | 3rd || 12 || 8 |- | 4th || 10 || 7 |- |  5th || 8  || 6 |- |  6th || 6 || 5 |- |  7th || 4 || 4 |- | 8th || 3 || 3 |- |  9th || 2 || 2 |- | 10th || 1 || 1

Lineup The field was announced on January 29, 2018. The lineup was selected based on several criteria, including top three finish in previous edition, URS, average FIDE rating from February 1, 2017, to January 1, 2018, and personal invitation by GCT Advisory Board. Initially, it consisted of ten players, including reigning World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen and his predecessors – Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. However, Carlsen and Kramnik declined the invitations, with number of players reducing to nine and last spot being given to Sergey Karjakin. Both Carlsen and Kramnik later played as wildcards.

PlayerCountryRating (January 2018)Eligility criteriaMaxime Vachier-Lagrave2793Runner-up of 2017 Grand Chess TourLevon Aronian2797Third place in 2017 Grand Chess TourFabiano Caruana2811Average ratingWesley So2792Average ratingHikaru Nakamura2781URSAlexander Grischuk2767URSShakhriyar Mamedyarov2804URSViswanathan Anand2767WildcardSergey Karjakin2753Replacement

Schedule and results DatesTournamentHost cityWinner10–17 JuneYour Next Move Rapid and Blitz Leuven Wesley So17–26 JuneParis Rapid and Blitz Paris Hikaru Nakamura9–16 AugustSaint Louis Rapid and Blitz St. Louis Hikaru Nakamura16–29 AugustSinquefield Cup St. Louis Magnus Carlsen (WC) Levon Aronian Fabiano Caruana11–17 DecemberLondon Chess Classic London Hikaru Nakamura

Tournaments Your Next Move Rapid and Blitz First leg of 2018 Grand Chess Tour took place on June 12–16 in Leuven City Hall, Leuven, Belgium. The wildcard for the event was Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, who ultimately finished on last place. The tournament was won by Wesley So.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+2018 Your Next Move, June 12–16 Leuven, Belgium ! !! Player !! Rapid !! Blitz !! Total !! !! Tour Points !! Prize money |- |-style="background:#ccffcc;" | 1 || align="left" | || 14 || 8 || 22 || || 13 || $37,500 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 10 || 11½ || 21½ || || 9 || $22,500 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 11 || 10½ || 21½ || || 9 || $22,500 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 10 || 11 || 21 || || 7 || $15,000 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 11 || 9½ || 20½ || || 6 || $12,500 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 8 || 9½ || 17½ || || 5 || $10,000 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 9 || 8 || 17 || || 4 || $7,500 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 5 || 9½ || 14½ || || 3 || $7,500 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 7 || 6½ || 13½ || || 2 || $7,500 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 5 || 6 || 11 || || WC (1) || $7,500

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Your Next Move Rapid, June 12–14 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2763 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 2 || 14 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2795 ||1 || ||1 ||2 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||2 ||1 ||2 || 11 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2777 ||1 || 1 || ||1 ||1 ||1 || 1 ||1 ||2 ||2 || 11 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2813 ||0 ||0 ||1 || ||1 ||2 ||2 ||0 ||2 ||2 || 10 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2743 ||1 ||2 ||1 ||1 |||| 1 ||2 ||0 || 1 || 1 || 10 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2766 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||0 || 1 || ||1 ||2 || 2 || 1 || 9 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2783|| 0 ||1 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||1 |||| 2 ||2 ||1 || 8 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2753 ||0 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || || 0 || 2 || 7 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2822 || 1 || 1 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||2 || ||0 || 5 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2779 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2 || || 5

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Your Next Move Blitz, June 15–16 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2816 || || ½ ½ || 1 0|| ½ 0|| 1 1|| ½ ½ ||1 0 ||½ 1|| 1 1|| ½ 1 || 11½ |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2878 || ½ ½ || ||0 0 ||1 ½|| 0 1|| 1 1 ||1 1|| 1 1 ||½ 0 ||0 1|| 11 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2837 || 0 1 ||1 1 || ||½ 1 ||0 0 ||½ 1 ||½ 0 ||½ ½ ||½ 1 ||1 ½|| 10½ |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2831 || ½ 1 ||0 ½|| ½ 0 |||| ½ 1 ||1 0 ||½ 1|| ½ ½ ||1 0|| ½ ½ || 9½ |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2817 || 0 0 || 1 0|| 1 1|| ½ 0|| ||0 ½ ||½ ½|| ½ ½|| 1 1|| ½ 1 || 9½ |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2809 || ½ ½ ||0 0 ||½ 0|| 0 1|| 1 ½|| ||1 ½|| ½ ½|| 1 0 ||1 1 || 9½ |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2757 || 0 1 ||0 0 ||½ 1|| ½ 0|| ½ ½ ||0 ½ || ||1 1|| ½ ½ ||0 ½ || 8 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2856 || ½ 0|| 0 0|| ½ ½|| ½ ½|| ½ ½|| ½ ½|| 0 0|| || ½ 1|| 1 1 || 8 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2818 || 0 0|| ½ 1|| ½ 0|| 0 1|| 0 0|| 0 1 ||½ ½ ||½ 0|| ||½ ½ || 6½ |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2799 || ½ 0 ||1 0|| 0 ½ ||½ ½ ||½ 0 ||0 0 ||1 ½|| 0 0 ||½ ½ || || 6

Paris Rapid and Blitz Paris Grand Chess Tour took place on June 20–24 in Paris, France and was second event of 2018 Grand Chess Tour. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik played as wildcard. The event was won by Hikaru Nakamura.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+2018 Paris GCT, June 20–24 Paris, France ! !! Player !! Rapid !! Blitz !! Total !! !! Tour Points !! Prize money |- |-style="background:#ccffcc;" | 1 || align="left" | || 11 || 12 || 23 || || 13 || $37,500 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 11 || 10½ || 21½ || || 10 || $25,000 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 12 || 9 || 21 || || 8 || $20,000 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 9 || 11 || 20 || || 7 || $15,000 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 9 || 10½ || 19½ || || 6 || $12,500 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 9 || 8 || 17 || || 5 || $10,000 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 7 || 9 || 16 || || 4 || $7,500 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 7 || 8½ || 15½ || || 3 || $7,500 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 8 || 5½ || 13½ || || 2 || $7,500 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 7 || 6 || 13 || || WC (1) || $7,500

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Paris GCT Rapid, June 20–22 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2763 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 12 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2743 ||1 || ||1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 11 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2813 ||1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 1|| 11 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2777 ||0 || 1 || 1 || ||2 ||1 ||1 ||2 ||1 || 0 || 9 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2795 ||1 || 1 || 1 || 0 || ||1 ||0 ||2 ||1 ||2 || 9 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2822 || 1 || 1 ||0 ||1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 9 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2753 || 0 ||1 ||0 ||1 ||2 ||1 || ||1 ||2 ||0 || 8 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2766 || 2 || 0 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||1 |||| 0 ||2 || 7 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2775 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1|| 1 || 0 || 0 || 2|| || 2 || 7 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2783 || 0 ||1 ||1 ||2 ||0 ||1 ||2 ||0 ||0 || || 7

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Paris GCT Blitz, June 23–24 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2878 || || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || 1 ½ || 0 1 || ½ 1 || 1 1 || 1 1 || 12 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2809 || ½ ½ || || ½ ½ || 0 ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || ½ 1 || 1 ½ || 1 1 || ½ 1 || 11 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2837 || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || || 1 1 || ½ 0 || ½ ½ || 0 1 || 1 ½ || 1 0 || 1 ½ || 10½ |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2816 || ½ ½ || 1 ½ || 0 0 || || 1 ½ || 1 ½ || 0 ½ || 1 0 || 1 1 || 1 ½ || 10½ |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2856 || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || ½ 1 || 0 ½ || || 0 ½ || 1 ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || 9 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2831 || 0 ½ || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || 0 ½ || 1 ½ || || ½ ½ || 0 1 || ½ ½ || 1 ½ || 9 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2757 || 1 0 || ½ 0 || 1 0 || 1 ½ || 0 ½ || ½ ½ || || ½ ½ || 0 1 || 0 1 || 8½ |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2817 || ½ 0 || 0 ½ || 0 ½ || 0 1 || ½ ½ || 1 0 || ½ ½ |||| ½ ½ || ½ 1 || 8 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2793 || 0 0 || 0 0 || 0 1 || 0 0 || ½ ½ || ½ ½ || 1 0 || ½ ½ || || 1 0 || 6 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2799 || 0 0 || ½ 0 || 0 ½ || 0 ½ || ½ ½ || 0 ½ || 1 0 || ½ 0 || 0 1 || || 5½

Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+2018 Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz, August 10–16 St. Louis, Missouri, United States ! !! Player !! Rapid !! Blitz !! Total !! !! Tour Points !! Prize money |- |-style="background:#ccffcc;" | 1 || align="left" | || 12 || 10½ || 22½ || || 13 || $37,500 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 8 || 13½ || 21½ || || 10 || $25,000 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 12 || 9 || 21 || || 8 || $20,000 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 11 || 9 || 20 || || 7 || $15,000 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 9 || 9 || 18 || || 6 || $12,000 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 9 || 8 || 17 || || 5 || $10,000 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 9 || 7 || 16 || || WC (4) || $7,500 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 6 || 9½ || 15½ || || 3 || $7,500 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 8 || 7 || 15 || || 2 || $7,500 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 6 || 7½ || 13½ || || 1 || $7,500

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Saint Louis Rapid, August 11-13 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2812 || || 1 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 12 |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2782 ||1 || ||1 ||2 ||0 ||1 ||2 ||2 ||1 ||2 || 12 |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2794 ||0 ||1 |||| 1 ||2 ||1 ||2 ||1 ||1 ||2 || 11 |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2791 ||1 ||0 ||1 |||| 1 ||2 ||1 ||1 ||1 ||1 || 9 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2785 ||1 || 2 || 0 ||1 || ||0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 9 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2754 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 ||2 || ||1 ||2 ||1 ||1 || 9 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2796 ||0 || 0 || 0 || 1|| 1 ||1 || ||1 || 2 ||2 || 8 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2794 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||1 ||0 ||1 |||| 2 || 2 || 8 |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2782 ||1 ||1 ||1 ||1 ||0 ||1 ||0 ||0 || ||1 || 6 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2771 ||2 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||1 || || 6

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="text-align: center;" |+class=nowrap|Saint Louis Blitz, August 15–16 ! !! Player !! Rating !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! Points |- | 1 || align=left| || 2878 || || ½ 1 || ½ 1|| 1 1|| 1 1|| ½ 0 ||1 ½ ||1 ½|| 1 1|| ½ ½ || 13½ |- | 2 || align="left" | || 2913 || ½ 0 || ||½ 1 ||1 1|| ½ 1|| 0 1 ||0 0|| ½ ½ ||1 ½ ||1 ½|| 10½ |- | 3 || align="left" | || 2831 || ½ 0 ||½ 0 || ||½ ½ ||1 ½ ||1 1 ||½ 1 ||0 ½ ||1 ½ ||½ 0|| 9½ |- | 4 || align="left" | || 2795 || 0 0 ||0 0|| ½ ½ |||| 1 1 ||0 1||1 1|| 1 ½ ||½ 0|| 1 0 || 9 |- | 5 || align="left" | || 2709 || 0 0 || ½ 0|| 0 ½|| 0 0|| ||½ 1||1 1|| ½ 1|| 1 ½|| 1 ½ || 9 |- | 6 || align="left" | || 2871 || ½ 1 ||1 0 ||0 0|| 1 0|| ½ 0|| ||½ 0|| ½ 1|| ½ 1 ||½ 1 || 9 |- | 7 || align="left" | || 2898 || 0 ½ ||1 1 ||½ 0|| 0 0|| 0 0 ||½ 1|| ||1 ½|| ½ ½ ||0 1 || 8 |- | 8 || align="left" | || 2812|| 0 ½|| ½ ½|| 1 ½|| 0 ½|| ½ 0|| ½ 0|| 0 ½|| || ½ ½|| ½ 1 || 7½ |- | 9 || align="left" | || 2687 || 0 0|| 0 ½|| 0 ½|| ½ 1|| 0 ½|| ½ 0 ||½ ½ ||½ ½|| ||1 ½ || 7 |- | 10 || align="left" | || 2800 || ½ ½ ||0 ½|| ½ 1 ||0 1 ||0 ½ ||½ 0 ||1 0|| ½ 0 ||0 ½ || || 7

Sinquefield Cup