The Candidates Tournament 2024 is ready to start in Toronto, Canada in just one week. At this prestigious event, grandmasters will face each other with the chance to challenge reigning World Chess Champion Ding Liren later this year.
Also Read: Neeraj Chopra to start 2024 season with Doha Diamond League
The Candidates Tournament serves as a stepping stone to the ultimate chess glory – the World Chess Championship. The winner of the open class will challenge Ding Liren, although the winner of the women’s category will face Ju Wenjun, the current women’s world chess champion.
India in Spotlight
This event has a special significance for India. A record breaking 5 Indian players will be competing for the championship title in each category. In the Open Candidates, we have the young guns – 18-year old Praggnanandhaa and 17 year old Gukesh – alongside the experienced Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (age 29). As for the girls, R Vaishali (22 years old) and Koneru Humpy (36 years old) will represent India.
🚨🚨🚨 BREAKING: Congratulations to 18-year-old 🇮🇳 GM Praggnanandhaa on reaching a #FIDEWorldCup final against @MagnusCarlsen and confirming his qualification for the 2024 Candidates Tournament!
He defeated GM Fabiano Caruana in the 10+10 tiebreaks match! pic.twitter.com/mlJ0aCUAd0
— Chess.com – India (@chesscom_in) August 21, 2023
Who are the other contestants?
While India brings strong pressure, the competition is fierce. Chess veterans such as Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and rising star Alireza Firouzja (France) will participate in the Open Candidates. The women’s class will feature Lei Tingjie (China), Tan Zhongyi (China), Kateryna Lagno (Russia), Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia), Nurgyul Salimova (Bulgaria) and Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine).
How These Players Were Selected for Candidates Tournament
Men Candidates
- Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia, but playing under FIDE flag): 2023 World Championship Match Runner-up
- Praggnanandhaa RÂ (India): 2023 World Cup 2nd place finish
- Fabiano Caruana (USA): 2023 World Cup 3rd place finish
- Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan): 2023 World Cup 4th place finish
- Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (India): 2023 Grand Swiss 1st place finish
- Hikaru Nakamura (USA): 2023 Grand Swiss 2nd place finish
- Alireza Firouzja (France): Best by Rating
- Gukesh DÂ (India): 2023Â FIDE Circuit Winner
Women Candidates
- Vaishali Rameshbabu (India): 2023 Grand Swiss 1st place finish
- Humpy Koneru (India): Best by rating
- Lei Tingjie (China): 2023 Women’s World Championship Match Runner-up
- Tan Zhongyi (China): 2023 Grand Swiss 2nd place finish
- Kateryna Lagno (Russia, but playing under FIDE flag): 1st in 2022-23 WGP
- Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia, but playing under FIDE flag): 2022-23 WGP 2nd place finish
- Nurgyul Salimova (Bulgaria): 2023 World Cup 2nd place finish
- Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine): 2023 World Cup 3rd place finish
Why Magnus Carlsen is not playing in the Candidates Tournament?
Chess lovers might be interested in the absence of the legendary Magnus Carlsen, the 5-time world chess champion. Carlsen qualified for the tournament but surprisingly withdrew due to his dissatisfaction with the organization and time controls of the World Championship.
Road to the title
The tournament will be a double round-robin affair, meaning that each player faces every other participant twice – once with the white pieces and once with the black pieces. This arrangement provides an exciting 14 rounds of mind games and strategic battles spread over 3 weeks from April 3rd to April 22nd.
Schedule for Candidates Tournament
| Date | Event | Time (Toronto Time – IST) |
| April 3 | Opening Ceremony | |
| April 4 | Round 1 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Alireza Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Gukesh D vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| April 5 | Round 2 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Hikaru Nakamura vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Kateryna Lagno vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| Tan Zhongyi vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| April 6 | Round 3 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Gukesh D vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Nurgyul Salimova | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Tan Zhongyi | ||
| April 7 | Round 4 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Hikaru Nakamura vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Fabiano Caruana vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Nurgyul Salimova vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| Aleksandra Goryachkina vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| April 8 | Rest day | |
| April 9 | Round 5 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Gukesh D vs. Nijat Abasov | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Fabiano Caruana | ||
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Anna Muzychuk | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Aleksandra Goryachkina | ||
| April 10 | Round 6 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Gukesh D vs. Hikaru Nakamura | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Alireza Firouzja | ||
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Nijat Abasov | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Kateryna Lagno | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Lei Tingjie | ||
| April 11 | Round 7 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Fabiano Caruana vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Nijat Abasov vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Alireza Firouzja vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Anna Muzychuk vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| Lei Tingjie vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| April 12 | Rest day | |
| April 13 | Round 8 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Alireza Firouzja | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| April 14 | Round 9 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Hikaru Nakamura | ||
| Gukesh D vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Kateryna Lagno | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Tan Zhongyi | ||
| April 15 | Round 10 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Nurgyul Sal vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| Tan Zhongyi vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| April 16 | Rest Day | |
| April 17 | Round 11 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Hikaru Nakamura | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Ian Nepomniachtchi | ||
| Gukesh D vs. Fabiano Caruana | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Nurgyul Salimova | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Aleksandra Goryachkina | ||
| April 18 | Round 12 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Nijat Abasov vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Fabiano Caruana vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Ian Nepomniachtchi vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Anna Muzychuk vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| Aleksandra Goryachkina vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| April 19 | Rest Day | |
| April 20 | Round 13 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Praggnanandhaa R vs. Fabiano Caruana | ||
| Vidit Santosh Gujrathi vs. Nijat Abasov | ||
| Gukesh D vs. Alireza Firouzja | ||
| Humpy Koneru vs. Anna Muzychuk | ||
| Vaishali Rameshbabu vs. Lei Tingjie | ||
| April 21 | Round 14 | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
| Hikaru Nakamura vs. Gukesh D | ||
| Alireza Firouzja vs. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi | ||
| Nijat Abasov vs. Praggnanandhaa R | ||
| Kateryna Lagno vs. Vaishali Rameshbabu | ||
| Lei Tingjie vs. Humpy Koneru | ||
| April 22 | Tie-breaks (if needed) & Closing Ceremony | 14:30 – 12 midnight |
Prize money for Candidates 2024
The winner of the Open Candidates will be rewarded with a sum of 48000 Euros (Rs 43 Lakhs approx). Runner-up or the one who finishes in second place will get 36000 Euros (Rs 32 Lakhs approx). The prize money for the third place is 24000 Euros (Rs 21 Lakhs approx). Additionally, for every half-point scored, players will get 3500 Euros (Rs 3 Lakhs approx).
Dress Code for Candidates Tournament
The Candidates Tournament isn’t just about the high stakes; it is also a prestigious opportunity. Players are expected to follow a proper dress code. Men are expected to wear suits and shirts, while women can choose between formal suits or dresses.
This year’s Candidates Tournament is a unique event as it is the first time that the Open and the Women’s Candidates tournament can be held at the same time. Chess enthusiasts can witness the brilliance of every man and woman grandmaster facing off under one roof.
The excitement is noticeable as chess fanatics around the world get to witness this epic clash of minds. If you’re new to chess or need to catch up on brand new trends, stay tuned for information and updates on the Candidates Tournament. You can simply discover a brand new favorite player or expand your newfound appreciation of this strategic game.
