Who will win the FIDE Candidates 2024?

The FIDE Candidates Chess Tournaments 2024 are halfway through, with GM Ian Nepomniachtchi leading the Open event with 4.5 pts, and GM Tan Zhongyi leading the Women's event with 5 pts, both players so far unbeaten.

It has been a thrilling competition all along, with exhilarating games pretty much every round in both tournaments. At this point, it's almost safe to say that the GOAT's prediction has flopped.

With that being said, there are still lots of games to be decided, and ultimate chess to be played. In the next 10 days, all will be revealed.

So maybe we could toss in some names just for the fun of it?  

1. Who are you rooting for?
2. Who do you think will win?

Looking forward to your replies and some fun convo!  

Indeed

I mean....

I am rooting for Hikaru, but I think Ian or Fabi is gonna win...

I'm rooting for Fabi! So far he has been playing solid outside of his game vs Vidit. Not at his best but still in the competition. Ian had a few scares and some luck but his defense has been really solid.

In the end, I think it's going to be a player who doesn't lose a single game, so Fabi only winning one game without losing so far is good news. Hopefully someone can knock Ian off the throne. The Indian players are good but play too risky, I think they will take more losses.

The problem for me is, there is something to admire in every player, male and female.

I would like to see Fabi win. But it would not upset me if any of the others win.

With the women, it's harder to decide - Tan is being spectacular. But I like so many of them. I wish Vaishali were doing better.

A lot of it will all come down to more than skill at chess. Stamina, experience, and time management all are factors. In particular, there has been a lot of time trouble, because they are all so used to playing with an increment, and in this contest there isn't one until move 40.

I want to say more, but I can barely type. It's 4am and I've had to correct almost every word, I'm so sleepy! 😴

I have my bets on Nepo. Although I would like to see Vidit do well, he has had some entertaining games.

I hope Anish Giri will win!

If he doesnt it will be huge upset

But i am rooting for wei yi

but i think anish will win

Ian seems to be on a roll to win the tournament for a third time in a row. But we are only halfway through, anything can happen.

1.Caruana

2. everybody who has 50% or more still has good chances.

GO Nepo! If he won the Candidates, he automatically qualify for the next Candidates.

No, FIDE has said that they might remove the qualification path where if you are the runner up of the 2024 FIDE World Championship you WON'T get a free qualification path to the 2025 Candidates.

+ in 2025 FIDE has announced that they will introduce chess 960 to replace chess with the normal arrangement of pieces to prevent people having theory of up to 20+ moves

dont believe me? https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-decides-new-format-for-chess

(JK it was a April Fools joke)

but in all seriousnous the runner up of the World chess championship 2024 probably WONT get a spot in the 2025 candidates