Tag: Nepomniachtchi

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, has reached its penultimate stage with the standings in constant flux.

In Round 11, Indian prodigy D Gukesh faced a time crunch against Fabiano Caruana and had to settle for a draw. Fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi suffered losses, further complicating the race for the title.

Ian Nepomniachtchi, a two-time Candidates winner, showcased his resilience by securing a victory with Black against Vidit Gujrathi. Despite facing two lost positions in a marathon game, Nepomniachtchi managed to turn the tables and move into sole lead. Vidit’s decision to push for a win in a seemingly equal position proved costly, as he missed multiple winning chances and ultimately handed Nepomniachtchi a crucial victory.

Hikaru Nakamura joined Gukesh in second place with 6.5/11 after defeating Praggnanandhaa with Black. Praggnanandhaa’s time constraints allowed Nakamura to maintain pressure and convert an edge into a vital win.

Caruana expressed relief with his draw against Gukesh, acknowledging that his opponent had created a slight advantage. “The main thing was not to lose,” Caruana said.

In the women’s section, Tan Zhongyi extended her lead to 7.5/11 with a victory over Kateryna Lagno. Humpy Koneru and Vaishali Rameshbabu also secured wins, while Lei Tingjie and Anna Muzychuk drew.

Round 13 pairings will see Nakamura face Alireza Firouzja, Gukesh take on Nijat Abasov, Caruana play Vidit Gujrathi, and Nepomniachtchi face Praggnanandhaa.

In the women’s tournament, Lagno will face Lei Tingjie, Muzychuk will play Vaishali Rameshbabu, Aleksandra Goryachkina will meet Humpy Koneru, and Nurgyul Salimova will challenge Tan Zhongyi.

Indian chess prodigies R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh aim to close the gap on tournament leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia as the Candidates chess tournament resumes in Toronto for its eighth round.

Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive style, will face Frenchman Firouza Alireza, while Gukesh will take on compatriot Vidit Gujarathi. Nepomniachtchi, the defending champion, holds a comfortable lead with 4.5 points, half a point ahead of Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Fabiano Caruana of the United States.

Gujarathi, with 3.5 points, is known for his late-tournament surges, while Hikaru Nakamura shares fifth place with him. Alireza sits in seventh place with 2.5 points, followed by Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan.

The Indian trio has shown flashes of brilliance but has also faced setbacks. Gujrathi outplayed Caruana but settled for draws in promising positions. Gukesh had a strong position against Alireza but made costly mistakes. Praggnanandhaa has been solid, notably drawing with Caruana in a French defense and defeating Gujrathi.

Against Alireza, Praggnanandhaa will seek to capitalize on his white pieces. “I have been playing quite well and am happy with the quality,” he said. Gukesh, with black pieces against Gujrathi, will aim to make a statement.

Nepomniachtchi and Caruana remain the only unbeaten players at the halfway stage. Nepomniachtchi has led the tournament after 50% of games in his previous two victories. Caruana, known for his explosive play, is a potential threat.

In the women’s section, Indian hopes have not materialized. Konery Humpy and R Vaishali are at the bottom of the standings with 2.5 points each, while Zhongyi Tan leads with five points. Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia is Tan’s closest challenger.