Chess Candidates Tournament 2024: 17-Year-Old Gukesh Shares Lead

The Chess Candidates Tournament 2024, which decides the challenger for the World Chess Championship, is heating up. After 12 rounds, 17-year-old Indian prodigy D Gukesh finds himself in a surprising three-way tie for first place with established stars Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura.

Also Read: How Chess as Sport can become equally popular like Cricket in India?

Gukesh Pulls Off Upset with Tricky Opening

Gukesh’s path to the top wasn’t conventional. He surprised his opponent, Nijat Abasov, with an uncommon opening move in the Nimzo-Indian defense. This threw Abasov off balance, forcing him to think long and hard about his responses. Gukesh’s goal was clear – to disrupt his opponent’s strategy and take a chance at victory.

The endgame became tense, with Abasov having chances to draw. However, Gukesh managed to steer the game towards a win, possibly due to his opponent missing a critical move. Gukesh’s fast play and Abasov’s time pressure likely contributed to the Indian’s success.

Caruana Stages Comeback, Stays in Contention

After a slow start, Fabiano Caruana, the world number 2, is back in the hunt. He defeated India’s Vidit Gujrathi with the white pieces. Caruana gained a slight advantage by exchanging bishops, putting pressure on Gujrathi’s position. This loss was a setback for the Indian player, who was previously in good form.

Caruana acknowledges the pressure of the Chess Candidates Tournament 2024 compared to other tournaments. He’s happy to be back in contention after a rough beginning.

The 10th round of the #FIDECandidates Tournament saw a surprising turn of events with four decisive results. In the Women’s Candidates Tournament,🇨🇳 Lei Tingjie defeated Aleksandra Goryachkina in a solid Exchange Slav, securing her spot at the top of the leaderboard alongside 🇨🇳… pic.twitter.com/gTvXHOgEsz

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 16, 2024

Nakamura on a Roll, Joins Leaders

American star Hikaru Nakamura is on fire. He secured his third consecutive win, defeating Alireza Firouzja with the white pieces. This victory propels him to the top of the leaderboard alongside Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi.

Nepomniachtchi Held to a Draw

The only drawn game in the Open section came from the clash between Praggnanandhaa and Nepomniachtchi.

Remaining Rounds Promise High Drama

With only two rounds remaining, the tournament is wide open. Here’s a look at the exciting matchups for round 13.

Nepomniachtchi vs Nakamura: A battle between two former Candidates finalists. This clash will likely be crucial in determining the winner.

Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana: A clash of young talent and experience. Can Praggnanandhaa pull off an upset?

Gukesh vs Firouzja: A battle between two rising stars. This game will be interesting to see how the young players handle the pressure.

Vidit vs Abasov: Both players need a win to stay relevant.

Who will emerge victorious and challenge the World Champion? Stay tuned for the next round.