Candidates Opens With Abundance Of Fighting Spirit
The players displayed an abundance of fighting spirit on the opening day of the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament. GM Hikaru Nakamura sacrificed two rooks vs. GM Fabiano Caruana. GM Alireza Firouzja and GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu co-created a duel of imagination and counterstrikes. GM Vidit Gujrathi essayed a bolt from the blue vs. GM Gukesh Dommaraju. The ultimately balanced results are far from the story told on the boards.
GM Tan Zhongyi seized the sole lead in the Women's Candidates by defeating her rival from the 2022-2023 Final, GM Lei Tingjie.
Round two starts on Friday, April 5, at 2:30 p.m. ET / 20:30 CEST / 12:00 a.m. IST.
Standings - Candidates
Standings - Women's Candidates
GM Mikhail Tal, the eighth world champion, shared these words about his own journey to capture the game's highest title: “The cherished dream of every chessplayer is to play a match with the World Champion.”
For the players who have qualified for the Candidates, they are just one step away from reaching this cherished dream.
From the outside, it appears that the seven other competitors are what stands in their way. Yet, really, much of the challenge is within themselves: Who can bring out the strongest version of themselves over the next three weeks?
As Caruana shared in his pre-tournament interview: “The difference will not be in terms of pure chess strength. It will be who brings their best chess to this event.”
The difference will not be in terms of pure chess strength. It will be who brings their best chess to this event.
―Fabiano Caruana
The Field
This year features a fairly unique blend of players. At the top, longtime favorites Caruana and Nakamura have recently resurged towards their peaks. Two-time winner, Nepomniachtchi, enters the event hoping for another shot at the world championship after watching his chances slip from his fingers in the last rapid playoff game vs. GM Ding Liren in 2023.
Firouzja is the ultimate wild card: the youngest player ever to break 2800 is capable of defeating anyone brilliantly, yet his imaginative, tactical style can lead to inconsistency.
The tournament also features four newcomers, Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, Vidit, and GM Nijat Abasov. In particular, Praggnanandhaa knocked Caruana out of the World Cup and defeated Ding at Tata Steel. When he assessed the chances of the two youngest players in his podcast, GM Anish Giri shared: “[Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh] can win this tournament. They can win, just you cannot say they are favorites. It’s not at all a given that they won’t win. You have to realize that."
It's not at all a given that [Praggnanandhaa or Gukesh] won't win. You have to realize that.
―Anish Giri
Entering the tournament 100 points lower than the rest of the field, will Abasov be the underdog under fire? Giri believes so:
Everybody is going to play super-aggressive against him. You understand? If he had not been there, they could also prepare something solid. Now, they have all prepared some sharp weapon because they all want to beat him.
Yet, GM David Howell pointed out how the underdog can use expectations to his advantage:
He was successful at using his lower rating as a superpower during the World Cup. He was baiting his opponents into these really messy, complicated positions where they would go all out to try and beat him, and then he would be ready. He would counterattack or he’d be better prepared than them in those messy lines.
[Abasov] was successful at using his lower rating as a superpower during the World Cup.
―David Howell
For information on the Women's Candidates' field, see the section below.
Fresh Faces vs. Experience
It's one of the youngest Candidates Tournaments, and one featuring debut appearances for half the field. How will this clash between newcomers and experienced competitors affect the results?
Caruana is the player with the most experience. Yet, he questions how much it's a determining factor:
My first Candidates was in 2016, so I was very inexperienced then. I didn’t know how to prepare. I didn’t know what to expect. But even with the lack of experience, I was quite close to winning in the end. Sergey Karjakin in the end won, but it came down to the last game. Even with not very much experience, I was doing quite well, handling it quite well.
The last time I played, I had a lot of experience, I didn’t handle it well. So I’m not sure how much experience matters. Every time is different. I’m not looking at some of the younger players and thinking: just because it’s their first time they won’t play really well potentially and put up a good fight. It could be, of course, that their first time is difficult, but they could play super well.
Candidates: Creative And Explosive Play Sets The Tone
Caruana vs. Nakamura: ½-½
The rivalry between the current world number-two and three spans well over a decade. In recent times, Nakamura has gained the upper hand, scoring pivotal classical victories last year at the Grand Swiss and in the last round of Norway Chess to capture the title.
Nakamura unleashed an early surprise for his compatriot with the uncommon 6...e5 in the Open Sicilian, previously known to be advantageous for White. As the minutes ticked down from his clock in the early opening while Nakamura flashed out his moves, Caruana must have wondered: What does the streamer have up his sleeve?
Despite the surprise, Caruana seemed to gain a comfortable edge, steering the game into a calm middlegame. Suddenly, Nakamura sacrificed a rook, ripping open his opponent's kingside.
While considering his response, Caruana appeared shaken. GM Judit Polgar reflected:
It is very clear that it came as a cold shower for Fabiano. It was really a shock for him. He felt already as we felt that it was quite stable for White, and it's only for two results... We see that Fabiano is going down in time, which is not helping him to handle this very special and unexpected situation, because it's only move 23.
To have 25 minutes in this position and be thinking: What is this? I cannot play Kxf2 because it's perpetual check. What? I blundered completely, how is it possible? You can see it in the body movement of Fabiano: He's putting his hands on his face. It's very uncomfortable for him.
It is very clear that it came as a cold shower for Fabiano.
―Judit Polgar
Initially, Caruana dodged his opponent's aggressive play, but he invested so much time that it later came back to bite him. With nine minutes left for 12 moves to the time control, the 2018 challenger made an inaccuracy, trading rooks and lessening his winning chances with opposite-colored bishops on the board.
Aware that Caruana's passed a-pawn held the last of his winning chances, Nakamura offered a second rook sacrifice to neutralize the threat.
Caruana continued trying to press, but it was clear that his advantage was spoiled.
With a twist of his queen into the e3-square, Nakamura offers a draw. After some thought, Caruana accepted — a 47th classical game unbeaten for Hikaru! #FIDECandidates pic.twitter.com/kjRY8gH1YP
— chess24 (@chess24com) April 4, 2024
After the game, Nakamura shared his own insights in the video below.
Gukesh vs. Vidit: ½-½
Gukesh's opening choice is a striking example of how much chess has opened up to outlandish ideas in the modern era. With only his knights developed, Gukesh invested two moves in maneuvering his queenside rook to the center―while his uncastled king and the rest of his pieces watched from their starting squares.
Despite the eccentricity of White's setup, across the chessboard, Vidit initially opted for a stable and conventional position. Yet, in a few moves, Vidit chose to turn the tables and sacrifice a pawn in his own bid for the initative.
Vidit continued with an enterprising bishop sacrifice, setting up a clearance tactic. Polgar reacted: "I was in a shock when I saw Bg4 on the board. It was a very spectacular move."
I was in a shock when I saw Bg4 on the board. It was a very spectacular move.
―Judit Polgar
As vicious and creative intentions glistened in Vidit's eyes, Gukesh saw the opportunity to a force a repetition, escaping his opponent's dangerous plans.
Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa: ½-½
Firouzja and Praggnanandhaa are two young grandmasters known for their imaginative approach to the game, and their clash lived up to expectations. Firouzja unveiled a surprise in the opening, placing his pieces on unorthodox squares while intentionally allowing his kingside to be opened up. As Firouzja blitzed his way into a novel position, Howell observed: "Clearly Alireza has spent weeks delving into the nuances of these quirky lines in the Spanish."
When Praggnanandhaa countered with a pragmatic, fighting setup, Firouzja sacrificed a pawn to create attacking chances. Yet, the Indian grandmaster found a stunning counter-sacrifice to force a perpetual check.
The explosive duel between these ambitious grandmasters is our Game of the Day. Enjoy analysis by GM Rafael Leitao below.
Abasov vs. Nepomniachtchi: ½-½
Despite their 126-point rating gap, Abasov had no trouble holding his own, breaking Nepomniachtchi's pattern of winning round one with Black in the Candidates: In 2022, he opened with a victory over Ding, and in 2020 he started with a win vs. Giri.
Nepomniachtchi looked to have chances at an edge as the game opened up in the middlegame, but Abasov confidently steered the game into an ending and held equality.
When asked what his goal is for the tournament, Abasov shared: "To enjoy every game and score as much as possible."
In round two, the youngest competitors, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh, will face off, setting up the possibility of a highly-inventive battle.
Women's Candidates: Tan Seizes The Lead
The Women's Candidates features all the women in the world top eight except for GM Hou Yifan and the reigning Women's World Champion, GM Ju Wenjun.
The women's world number-three, GM Aleksandra Goryachkina, tops the field. Lei, the previous challenger, hopes for another shot at the throne. Tan is the 16th women's world champion and a Candidates finalist in the 2022-2023 cycle. GM Humpy Koneru is the third-highest rated woman in history.
Lei vs. Tan: 0-1
Tan started with a critical victory vs. Lei, gaining vengeance against the player who knocked her out of the Final in the previous Women's Candidates. The players went for an unbalanced position from the get-go. Lei expanded on the queenside, seeking chances in positional play, while Tan set her sights on building a kingside attack.
When Lei offered a queen trade to halt Tan's attack, it came at the cost of her pawn structure. Soon, Tan won an extra pawn and gained the full point with energetic play in the ending.
Goryachkina vs. Lagno: ½-½
The shortest game features a thrilling moment. When GM Kateryna Lagno attempted to prevent Goryachkina's knight from advancing to a potent kingside square, Goryachkina played it anyway.
Muzychuk vs. Salimova: ½-½
Both GM Anna Muzychuk and IM Nurgyul Salimova played aggressively, jockeying for the initiative in the middlegame. Ultimately, their combative efforts found a dynamic balance.
Vaishali vs. Humpy: ½-½
GM-elect Vaishali Rameshbabu and Humpy played a subtle, maneuvering duel, ultimately keeping the position extremely level throughout.
In round two, Tan will have another chance to even the score. The current leader will face Vaishali, who upset her in the Grand Swiss to seal her Candidates spot.
You can watch video recaps of the Candidates in our playlist below (click here).
How to watch?
The live broadcast was hosted by GMs Robert Hess, Judit Polgar, and David Howell.
The live broadcast was hosted by IMs Jovanka Houska and Kassa Korley.
The FIDE Candidates Tournaments are among the most important FIDE events of the year. Players compete for the right to play in the next FIDE World Championship match against current World Chess Champions GMs Ding Liren and Ju Wenjun.
Previous coverage:
- How To Watch The 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournaments
- Magnus Carlsen Ranks The Candidates Players
- Who Should You Root For In The 2024 Women's Candidates Tournament?
- Who Should You Root For In The Candidates Tournament?
- Who The Stats Say Will Be The Next World Championship Challenger
- How To Become The Chess World Champion
- From Trailblazers To Candidates: 10 Brilliancies Played By Women
Vanessa West is a National Master, a chess teacher, and a writer for Chess.com. In 2017, they won the Chess Journalist of the Year award.
You can follow them on X: Vanessa__West
