Play got underway today at the 2018 edition of the FIDE Candidates Tournament ©Getty Images

Eight of the world’s top players conducted the first round of matches at the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Candidates Tournament 2018 in Berlin today seeking a €95,000 ($117,000/£85,000) top prize and the right to challenge Norway’s 27-year-old Magnus Carlsen for the world title.

The tournament, due to last until March 28, is being contested as a double round-robin with each player playing 14 games at the Kuehlhaus. 

Russia’s former chess prodigy Sergey Karjakin, 28, who narrowly lost the last World Chess Championship to Carlsen in 2016 after winning that year’s Candidates Tournament, lost his opening match against Azerbaijan’s Mamedyarov Shakhriyar, who finished in the top two in last year’s FIDE Grand Prix.

Wild card Vladimir Kramnik won his first match against fellow Russian Alexander Grischuk, also in the top two in the Grand Prix.

Russian wild card entry Vladimir Kramnik had an opening day victory at the FIDE Candidates Tournament for the right to challenge Norway’s 27-year-old Magnus Carlsen for the world title underway in Berlin ©Getty Images
Russian wild card entry Vladimir Kramnik had an opening day victory at the FIDE Candidates Tournament for the right to challenge Norway’s 27-year-old Magnus Carlsen for the world title underway in Berlin ©Getty Images

Fabiano Caruana of the United States defeated his compatriot Wesley So.

Levon Aronian of Armenia and Ding Liren of China drew their opening match.

Players will face each other twice - once with black pieces and once with the white pieces..

Four rest days will take place after rounds three, six, nine and 12.