The eight-player, 14-round Candidates match, to resolve the 2024 world title challenger, begins in Toronto this week. Thursday’s opening spherical of the €500,000 occasion begins at 7.30pm BST and shall be viewable on main chess web sites. The €250,000 Ladies’s Candidates is held alongside the open occasion for the primary time.
Who will win? There’s a era battle between the trio of Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura (US) and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) of their thirties, and the under-21 group of Alireza Firouzja (France) and the Indians Praggnanandhaa R and Gukesh D, with the outsiders Vidit Gujrathi (India) and Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan) of their late twenties.
Caruana and Nakamura, the World Nos 2 and three, are the ranking favourites, whereas Nepomniachtchi (twice) and Caruana are earlier Candidates winners.
The Russian’s case is attention-grabbing. His two earlier Candidates appearances have been marked by high-profile publicity, with references to assist from a supercomputer and a crew of aides, whereas this time his preparation has been low-key. In final 12 months’s world title match towards Ding Liren, Nepomniachtchi took the lead thrice earlier than shedding, so he shall be extremely motivated, all of the extra so since Ding’s poor 2024 kind continued on the Grenke Basic in Karlsruhe final week.
Caruana, the US champion, performs within the rational classical model attribute of lots of the biggest gamers, although there’s a view that he has turn out to be liable to choke on large events. He failed within the final two Candidates when he was the pre-tournament favorite.
Nakamura’s main profession is as a well-liked streamer, in order that he claims to play with much less strain than most of his rivals. Nevertheless, Within the remaining spherical of the 2022 Candidates he missed straightforward possibilities to attract with Ding and so qualify for a title match with Nepomniachtchi.
Firouzja continues to be solely 20, however already has a protracted and profitable profession on the highest stage. His earlier Candidates in 2022 was disappointing, as he completed sixth of eight and notoriously performed a bullet match within the small hours whereas dropping out of rivalry. He has flirted with another profession in style design, and solely certified for the 2024 Candidates by a controversial route. He stays an impressive expertise, able to successful the occasion if on his greatest kind.
Three Indians in an eight-player subject would usually suggest an excellent likelihood, however for Praggnanandhaa, 18, and Gukesh, 17, the prospect in all probability comes too early. Youngsters have a poor Candidates document. Vidit’s robust end on the Grand Swiss within the Isle of Man certified him, however his total kind is variable, whereas the 100-1 outsider Abasov is the bottom rated by a large margin.
It’s an open Candidates. I hesitatingly select Nepomniachtchi for a 3rd victory, however wouldn’t be stunned if Caruana or Firouzja received.
The ladies’s Candidates appears to be like simpler to foretell. Aleksandra Goryachkina and Lei Tingjie are the 2 highest rated gamers, each have received the Candidates beforehand, and each went shut of their world title matches towards the holder Ju Wenjun. My slim choice is for the Russian.
Puzzle 2566
David Peng vs Pavel Anisimov, Titled Tuesday 2020. White to maneuver and win.
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