who is your favourite player in FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2022?

I would be happy if Hikaru wins, excited if its Alireza, confused if its Rapport and neutral if is anyone else.

I am also rooting for Hikaru. Amazing performance so far, and I have full respect that he is able to make a recap video for youtube after 7 hours of playing.

ding

Yes I totally agree with you, it would have been awesome if Vishy was allowed actually, and he has been playing well recently for his standards 🌸

That would have been rather a poetic end of Carlsen's reign I would say 😅 @Snookslayer

I like most of the players in this candidates actually.  Nepo usually plays very entertaining chess. Duda can beat anyone in a good day.... I actually liked Hikaru and Radjabov better when they were more aggressive. 

But as far as chess style goes I like Rapport's creative chess the most. But I have been really enjoying Alireza games and the positions he's gotten himself into so far. 

But that actually has a chance of beating Magnus in a match probably only Ding or Caruana. Maybe firouzja but he is still a little green in my opinion. Ding is brilliant and goes into sharp positions but idk maybe he lacks the "it" killer factor to make him champion.  Who knows what Nepo learned from last years WCC, but I doubt he'd be able to beat carlsen in a match.

Wouldn't mind seeing MVL or Aronian in the tournament as well since I like their chess, but it's fine the way it is. I really just wish they had Grischuk there just to give interviews afterwards, even if he doesn't play.

Anyone that isn't that horrible human being, Hikaru Nakamura.  I know what he did to Eric Hansen, and that's just one example of his horrible behaviour. 

Caruana, of course...if I remember correctly, Magnus also said he'd defend against Caruana (after all, Caruana DID give Carlsen a good challenge during their Championship Match)...

Rooting for Rapport - I like his creativity.

Nepo and Caruana's Candidates experience is showing. They are strong favorites.

Ding has been playing horribly. Hopefully, after the rest day he can recover.

Firouzja has had some interesting ideas, but it hasn't looked like it's enough to make a dent in this field. He might still be saving his secret weapons for later rounds.

Duda can play, but he comes off a little cocky. It's good that he's confident and motivated.

Nakamura is unpredictable. It's a 50/50 whether he will win the whole thing, but I like that he is taking risks in early rounds.

Radjabov is a little controversial. FIDE always picks him to be a wildcard, but how they choose a wildcard should be more transparent. Is it a committee? Lottery? I don't know.

Agree with almost everything although saying hikaru winning is 50/50 is VERY optimistic lol

Also don't really see Duda as cocky, he actually seemed a little nervous or insecure during the first couple rounds.

As far as Radjabov wild card, when else did FIDE give him one? He only got one this year because last candidates he qualifed for it but then covid hit and he suggested they postponed it. FIDE said "stffu you know nothing stupid the tournament will happen" and Radjabov withdrew from it. A couple of weeks later they interrupted it mid-tournament proving Radjabov was corrected, but it was too late for him to join, so he was given this years wildcard, which i think is fair, even though he seems to be a little out of form and his chess level seems to be a bit below the other contestants.

Radjabov was a wildcard for the 2013 candidates.  It was unclear whether he should be given a wild card because he hasn't played OTB since 2019. Strong player, nevertheless.

I think he should have been given it this year because he didn't get to play what was rightfully his because FIDE messed up (there might be the threat of a potential lawsuit involved as well, as mentioned, but not sure about that)

I didn't know about 2013 but it was his peak, he was elite player back then right? And usually wild cards are at the disposal of the organizers and they still have to meet certain requirements to be eligible to receive the wild card, like finish top something in grand prix, certain rating or whatever. Like last candidates Alekeseenko only received because he was the best placed finisher in the grand swiss to not qualify for candidates, apart from being russian in a candidates organized in russia.

I don't know when Radjabov's peak was because he was a child prodigy. He came onto the professional scene around the time that Garry was in his late career, but as a teenager. He is able to consistently hold his own against the top, and that alone is a testament to his strength.

It would be cool to see him win the Candidates, though. The 90s and early 2000s was an interesting time period for chess, and openings and ideas from that period could make a comeback.

Lol yea there's that great game where he beat Kasparov with the French and Kasparov got super pissy.

Doubt he'll win tho, but the openings can always comeback, especially now that a lot of players are avoiding main computer lines

my favorite player in the 2022 FIDE Candidates is Hikaru Nakamura

Welp,  11 rounds to go.  This candidates is extra entertaining because of the uncertainty about Magnus thinking of just giving up his title.  So the top 2 spots will be important, not just 1st place.