Candidates 2024: Second Half Kicks Off With a Bang in Both Sections

OPEN

The second half of the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament started with a bang! In the American derby, GM Hikaru Nakamura won an important game versus his countryman, GM Fabiano Caruana.

Photo courtesy Maria Emelianova/Chess.com

Fabi obtained relatively easy equality out of the opening, but right when it seemed that the game was heading toward a peaceful result, he started to play some awkward moves. From there, he began wasting time on the clock and quickly found himself in trouble.

Nakamura is proving to be a difficult opponent for Fabi as of late, having defeated him in Norway Chess, Grand Swiss, and now in the Candidates (Photo courtesy Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)

The full game is annotated below:

In the other intra-country battle, GM Vidit Gujrathi got surprised by a clever opening idea from GM Gukesh D., and wasn’t able to adjust.

Vidit (L) was surprised by deep, creative preparation from Gukesh, who now rejoins the lead (Photo courtesy Michal Walusza/FIDE)

He continued to play ambitiously, overextending and weakening his queenside, and was duly punished as Gukesh’s pieces entered the a-file, then the back rank, and from there just checkmated White’s king!

With a chance to extend his lead, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi wasn’t able to break through Abasov’s defensive effort, while GM Praggnanandhaa and GM Alireza Firoujza started with an exciting line of the Taimanov Sicilian, only for it to eventually peter into a draw.

Courtesy FIDE

Nakamura currently sits in a tie for third with Pragg, and they both have “revenge” matches today. In round two, Nakamura and Pragg both lost with the white pieces against Vidit and Gukesh, respectively. Now, they both take the black pieces in round nine. Nepomniachtchi and Caruana also move second today, against Firouzja and Abasov respectively.

WOMEN’S

The Women’s event had a big result as the tournament leader, GM Tan Zhongyi, could have forced a draw with a three-fold repetition, but decided to fight on.

Tan (L) took a gamble rather than settle for a draw, and is no longer in sole first as a result (Photo courtesy Maria Emelianova/Chess.com)

The bold strategy backfired, and allowed her countrywoman, GM Lei Tingjie, to win her third consecutive game and join Tan atop the standings.

The leader’s loss gave GM Aleksandra Goryachkina a chance to move into sole first, but instead she made a solid draw with her countrywoman GM Kateryna Lagno, and now we have an exciting tie for first between Tan, Lei, and Goryachkina.

Lagno (L) and Goryachkina put together another solid performance to stay in the top half of the standings, with Goryachkina tied for first and Lagno now only one game back (Photo courtesy Michal Walusza/FIDE)

In the final intra-country pairing, GM Humpy Koneru was able to grind out a win against the less-experienced GM-Elect Vaishali Rameshbabu, but not without some luck.

Salimova wasn’t able to win with an extra Exchange against GM Anna Muzychuk, and the game was drawn after 120 moves (!) which is a record for this year’s Candidates!

Anna Muzychuk (R) poses with a young fan after playing the longest game of the tournament (Photo courtesy Michal Walusza/FIDE)

Previously, the longest game in this year's Women’s event was also played by Muzychuk in round four (when Lei managed to hold the endgame by underpromoting to a knight). Gukesh’s 87-move win over Abasov in the fifth round is the longest game in this year’s Open.

Courtesy FIDE

Of the three co-leaders, Lei is the only one with the white pieces (against Salimova). Tan and Goryachkina face Vaishali and Muzychuk, respectively, while Humpy takes the white pieces against Lagno.

Quick Links

Official Website

Play begins daily at 1:30 p.m. CDT, except on rest days (Schedule | Pairings | Crosstables)

Follow the games live on Chess.com (Open | Women's) and Lichess.org (Open | Women's)

Stream Today in Chess, courtesy of Saint Louis Chess Club (YouTube | Twitch)

Catch up on Chess Life Online (CLO) Candidates coverage

Review all annotated games from CLO

Follow on social media with the tag #FIDECandidates