Candidates Chess 2024: India’s Gukesh managed to stay on top of the Candidates 2024 standings after 10 rounds in the open section. Gukesh’s big showdown with two-time world chess championship contender Ian Nepomniachtchi fizzled out in a draw after 40 moves. Both players will stay on top of the standings with four games remaining in the prestigious tournament.
The other game of Round 10 involving Indians — the clash between Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi — ended in a draw by three-fold repetition. Pragg thus stayed on the heels of Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi, just half a point behind.
Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana claimed wins against Nijat Abasov and Alireza Firouzja to join Pragg in third spot.
The Candidates is a double round robin tournament with the player finishing in first place getting the chance to challenge Ding Liren for the World Chess Champion’s crown. The women’s winner will take on Ju Wenjun.
In the women’s section, Humpy held women’s leader Tan Zhongyi to a draw. Meanwhile, Vaishali managed to defeat Nurgyul Salimova in an incredible battle to register a rare win in the tournament.
Results from Round 9 games at Candidates
Open section
Hikaru Nakamura beat Nijat Abasov
Fabiano Caruana beat Alireza Firouzja
Ian Nepomniachtchi drew with Gukesh D
Praggnanandhaa R drew with Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Women’s category
Kateryna Lagno drew with Anna Muzychuk
Tan Zhongyi drew with Humpy Koneru
Aleksandra Goryachkina lost to Lei Tingjie
Nurgyul Salimova lost to Vaishali Rameshbabu
Standings after Round 10 at Candidates
Open standings after Round 10
(Standings updated after Round 10 games ended on Tuesday IST)
Women’s standings in middle of Round 10
(Standings updated after Round 10 games ended on Tuesday IST)
Schedule for Indians from Round 11 to Round 14 at Candidates
ROUND 11 Open
Praggnanandhaa R – Hikaru Nakamura
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Ian Nepomniachtchi
Gukesh D – Fabiano Caruana
ROUND 11 Women’s
Humpy Koneru – Nurgyul Salimova
Vaishali Rameshbabu – Aleksandra Goryachkina
ROUND 12 Open
Nijat Abasov – Gukesh D
Fabiano Caruana – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Ian Nepomniachtchi – Praggnanandhaa R
ROUND 12 Women’s
Anna Muzychuk – Vaishali Rameshbabu
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru
ROUND 13 Open
Praggnanandhaa R – Fabiano Caruana
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Nijat Abasov
Gukesh D – Alireza Firouzja
ROUND 13 Women’s
Humpy Koneru – Anna Muzychuk
Vaishali Rameshbabu – Lei Tingjie
ROUND 14 Open
Hikaru Nakamura – Gukesh D
Alireza Firozja – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Nijat Abasov – Praggnanandhaa R
ROUND 14 Women’s
Kateryna Lagno – Vaishali Rameshbabu
Lei Tingjie – Humpy Koneru
