Candidates Tournament 2024
{{Short description|World Chess Championship qualifying event}}
{{Infobox sports competition event
| competition = Candidates Tournament 2024
| governing_body = FIDE
| image = Gukesh in 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Gukesh Dommaraju, the winner of the tournament, advanced to the World Chess Championship 2024 match.
| venue = The Great Hall
| location = Toronto, Canada
| dates = 3–22 April 2024
| competitors = 8
| nations = 5
| champion = {{flagicon|India}} Gukesh Dommaraju
| win_score = 9 points of 14
| previous = 2022
| next = 2026
}}
The 2024 Candidates Tournament was an eight-player chess tournament, held to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2024. The tournament took place at The Great Hall in Toronto, Canada, from April 3–22, 2024.{{Cite web |title=FIDE publishes the regulations for 2024 Candidates Tournaments |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2843}} The event was held alongside the Women's Candidates Tournament.{{Cite web |title=Toronto will host the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournaments |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2300}}{{Cite web |title=Toronto to host the 2024 Open and Women's Candidates Tournaments |url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/toronto-to-host-candidates-tournaments-2024 |website=ChessBase|date=29 March 2023 }} The event was won by Gukesh Dommaraju, which made him the youngest ever winner of a Candidates Tournament, and the youngest ever World Chess Championship challenger.{{cite web |author=Anthony Levin |title=Gukesh Youngest Ever Candidates Winner, Tan Takes Women's By 1.5 Points|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-14|website=Chess.com |date=22 April 2024}}{{cite web |title=Indian teenager Gukesh to challenge China's Ding Liren for world chess title|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2024/4/22/gukesh-dommaraju-candidates-chess-2024-india-world-title-ding-liren|website=Al Jazeera English |date=22 April 2024}} Following the event Gukesh went on to become the youngest undisputed World Champion by defeating Ding Liren in the 14th and last classical game.
As with every Candidates tournament since 2013, it was a double round-robin tournament.[https://wcc.fide.com FIDE World Championship Cycle 2023-2024][https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Regulations_for_the_FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2024.pdf Regulations for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024], (PDF) FIDE The winner of the tournament earned the right to play the World Chess Championship 2024 against the defending World Chess Champion Ding Liren.{{cite web |author=Tarjei Svensen |title=Ding Reveals Reason For Absence, Expects Comeback In 2024|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/ding-reveals-reasons-for-absence-expects-2024-comeback|website=Chess.com |date=5 November 2023}}
Qualification
The qualifiers for the Candidates Tournament were:{{Cite web |title=FIDE reforms qualifications paths to Candidates Tournament |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2138}}{{Cite web |title=FIDE Announces 2024 Candidates Tournament Qualification Paths |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/fide-announces-2024-candidates-tournament-qualification-paths |website=Chess.com|date=15 December 2022 }}{{cite web |title=FIDE Candidates 2024 - Players|url=https://candidates2024.fide.com/players|website=2024 Candidates Tournament Website |date=3 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203131944/https://candidates2024.fide.com/players|archive-date=3 February 2024}}
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
! rowspan=2 | Qualification method ! rowspan=2 | Player ! Age ! Rating ! World |
colspan="3" |(April 2024) |
---|
2023 World Championship runner-up
|{{flagicon|FIDE}} Ian Nepomniachtchi{{efn|Russian players' flags are displayed as the FIDE flag, as Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from FIDE-rated events in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[https://www.chess.com/news/view/2022-fide-council-ukraine-belarus-russia FIDE Condemns Military Action; Takes Measures Against Russia, Belarus], chess.com, 28 February 2022|name="flags"}} | {{age|1990|07|14|2024|4|25}} |2758 |7 |
rowspan="4" |The top three finishers in the Chess World Cup 2023{{efn|The regulations stated that it would be the top three finishers other than Ding and Nepomniachtchi. (And that if both finished in the top four of the World Cup, then the World Cup qualifiers would be the other two players in the top four; and two players with the highest rating in the January 2024 ranking list would qualify for the event instead of one). However neither of these players reached the World Cup semifinals: Ding elected not to play, and Nepomniachtchi lost in the fifth round.}}
| style="background:lightgrey;" | {{Flagicon|NOR}} | style="background:lightgrey;" | {{age|1990|11|30|2024|4|25}} | style="background:lightgrey;" | 2830 | style="background:lightgrey;" |1 |
{{Flagicon|IND}} R Praggnanandhaa {{small|(runner-up)}}
|{{age|2005|08|10|2024|4|25}} |2747 |14 |
{{Flagicon|USA}} Fabiano Caruana {{small|(third place)}}
|{{age|1992|07|30|2024|4|25}} |2803 |2 |
{{Flagicon|AZE}} Nijat Abasov {{Small|(fourth place, replacement for Carlsen)}}
|{{age|1995|05|14|2024|4|25}} |2632 |114 |
rowspan="2" |The top two finishers in the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2023
|{{Flagicon|IND}} Vidit Gujrathi {{small|(winner)}} |{{age|1994|10|24|2024|4|25}} |2727 |25 |
{{Flagicon|USA}} Hikaru Nakamura {{small|(runner-up)}}
|{{age|1987|12|9|2024|4|25}} |2789 |3 |
Highest place in the 2023 FIDE Circuit not already qualified{{efn|Fabiano Caruana finished first in the 2023 FIDE Circuit, but had already qualified for the Candidates through a third place finish at the Chess World Cup 2023. As a result, the qualifying spot was awarded to the highest finisher of the FIDE Circuit who had not already qualified for the event (Gukesh Dommaraju).{{cite web |author=Tarjei Svensen |title=FIDE Clarification On Candidates Race Draws Reactions|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/new-fide-clarifications-on-candidates-draws-reactions|website=Chess.com |date=13 December 2023}}{{Cite web |title=FIDE Circuit 2023 |url=https://wcc.fide.com/fide_circuit.phtml |website=FIDE}}}}
|{{Flagicon|IND}} Gukesh Dommaraju |{{age|2006|5|29|2024|4|25}} |2743 |16 |
Highest rating for January 2024 not already qualified{{efn|Provided the player has played at least 4 classical time control tournaments eligible for the 2023 FIDE Circuit.}}
|{{Flagicon|FRA}} Alireza Firouzja |{{age|2003|6|18|2024|4|25}} |2760 |6 |
= Withdrawal of Magnus Carlsen =
Despite qualifying for the Candidates Tournament by winning the 2023 FIDE World Cup,{{cite web |author=Aaditya Narayan |title=Magnus Carlsen wins 2023 Chess World Cup after beating R Praggnanandhaa in tie-breaks|url=https://www.espn.com/chess/story/_/id/38249512/2023-chess-world-cup-r-praggnanandhaa-magnus-carlsen-tiebreak-winner-world-no-1|website=ESPN |date=24 August 2023}}{{cite web |title= Chess: Magnus Carlsen beats India's Praggnanandhaa to win FIDE World Cup |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/24/chess-magnus-carlsen-beats-indias-praggnanandhaa-to-win-fide-world-cup |website=Al Jazeera English |date=24 August 2023}} former World Champion Magnus Carlsen decided not to compete in Toronto.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/carlsen-on-his-future-personal-life-motivation-and-more|title=Carlsen On Lack Of Motivation, Classical Chess, New WC Formats & Family Life|publisher=chess.com|date=2 May 2023|access-date=8 May 2023}} He had previously stated his disinclination after reaching the semifinals of the World Cup, stating that "under the current format there is absolutely no chance" he will play the Candidates.[https://twitter.com/chess24com/status/1691838854259511390 "Under the current format there is absolutely no chance. I think everybody should operate under the assumption that I will not play at the Candidates and that everybody else who's in the semifinals is qualified for the Candidates," says Magnus Carlsen.] Before the official decision, twitter.com, 16 August 2023 In January 2024, after official confirmation of the candidates list, Magnus Carlsen formally confirmed his decision to decline FIDE's invitation to play in the Candidates Tournament by stating "I would say the main reason is that I don't enjoy it. It's as simple as that."{{cite web |title=Exclusive: Carlsen Confirms He Will Formally Decline Candidates Invitation |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/magnus-carlsen-confirms-yet-again-he-will-decline-candidates |website=Chess.com |date=6 January 2024}} As a result, Nijat Abasov, who finished fourth at the World Cup, qualified to the Candidates Tournament 2024 as Carlsen's replacement.[https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2024_Qualification_Paths.pdf FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024: Qualification paths]{{cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2839 |title=Magnus Carlsen withdraws from Candidates 2024, the spot goes to Nijat Abasov |author=FIDE |date=14 January 2024 |website=fide.com |publisher=FIDE |access-date=14 January 2024 |quote=}}
= FIDE and Grand Chess Tour agreement =
In April 2022, before announcing all the qualification methods, FIDE announced that the top two finishers in the 2023 Grand Chess Tour would qualify to the 2024 Candidates Tournament. FIDE promised that more details would follow, but later announced qualification paths excluding the Grand Chess Tour, without providing an explanation for the change.{{Cite web |title=Grand Chess Tour becomes part of the World Championship Cycle |url=https://www.fide.com/news/1717 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=www.fide.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FIDE revamp Candidates qualification system |url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/fide-announce-new-candidates-qualification |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=chess24.com |language=en}} However, the Grand Chess Tour tournaments counted toward the qualifying path of the FIDE Circuit.
= FIDE Rating qualifier =
The highest rated player in the January 2024 rating list who has not yet qualified for the Candidates or World Championship, and has participated in at least four FIDE Circuit classical events, qualified for the Candidates.{{Cite web |title=FIDE World Championship Cycle |url=https://wcc.fide.com/fide_circuit.phtml |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=International Chess Federation (FIDE) |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FIDE reforms the qualifications paths to the Candidates Tournament |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2138 |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=www.fide.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FIDE World Championship Cycle |url=https://wcc.fide.com/cycle2023_2024.phtml |access-date=2023-10-16 |website=International Chess Federation (FIDE) |language=en}}
The rating qualifier turned out to be hotly contested. After a poor showing in the 2023 Sinquefield Cup, rating spot front-runner Alireza Firouzja lost nearly thirteen rating points, putting him behind Wesley So in the live ratings. In an attempt to surpass So, the Chartres Chess Club organized three two-game matches between Firouzja and grandmasters Alexandre Dgebuadze (52 years old, rated 2439), Andrei Shchekachev (51 years old, rated 2506), and Sergey Fedorchuk (42 years old, rated 2546). These matches, held in Chartres, France, were collectively referred to as "Alireza Firouzja's Race to Candidates". Firouzja needed to win all six games (or win the first five and not play the sixth) to overtake So in the live ratings. He indeed won the first five games after some controversy (such as Shchekachev resigning in a position that turned out to be equal in game 3), but decided to play the sixth game anyway. In what was effectively a must-win game, Firouzja overpushed and landed in a bad endgame, but with both players in time trouble, Fedorchuk accepted Firouzja's draw offer. The 5.5/6 result still left Firouzja behind So in the live rating list.
The last-minute nature of the event as well as the hand-selecting of opponents drew criticism, including from So, who revealed he turned down similar opportunities because he disagreed with the morality of such events. Shortly after these matches were announced, FIDE affirmed that it had the right to not rate any specific event, and the United States Chess Federation called on FIDE to not rate Firouzja's games. FIDE's response drew criticism from many, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, who pointed out that Ding Liren had also played last-minute games to qualify for the Candidates Tournament 2022, to no reaction from FIDE.{{cite web |author=Colin McGourty |date=22 December 2023 |title=Firouzja Falls At Final Candidates Hurdle, Wins Only 5.5/6, Drops Below So |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/firouzja-wesley-so-candidates |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=chess.com |publisher= |quote=}}
On December 25, FIDE announced new rules, effective immediately, requiring events with at least one player rated over 2700 (or at least one woman player rated over 2500) to be registered at least one month in advance; however, the rule would not be applied retroactively for Alireza Firouzja's Race to Candidates tournament. This requirement could be waived with the approval of the FIDE president or QC Chairman. That same day, Alireza Firouzja's matches (as well as another match in Chartres in which Firouzja did not play) were removed from FIDE's website.{{cite web |url=https://www.fide.com/news/2818 |title=FIDE Council approves changes in tournament registration procedure |date=25 December 2023 |website=FIDE |publisher= |access-date=25 December 2023 |quote=}}{{Cite tweet |user=MChoiz |number=1739257296180453752 |title=And Chartres vanished.}}
Having fallen short, Firouzja withdrew from the World Rapid and Blitz championship to participate in the Open de Rouen tournament,{{Cite tweet |user=FIDE_chess |number=1738478953763848529 |title=GM Alireza Firouzja has withdrawn from the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships due to personal reasons. #RapidBlitz}} which was a minor Swiss-system tournament with a top prize of €700. Firouzja won all 7 games, including a win against former world championship challenger Gata Kamsky. This gained Firouzja enough rating to surpass So on the January 2024 rating list even if the Chartres event was not rated, which turned out to be the case.{{cite web |author=Colin McGourty |date=29 December 2023 |title=Firouzja Overtakes Wesley So To Grab Candidates Rating Spot |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/firouzja-wesley-so-candidates-rouen |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Chess.com |publisher= |quote=}} Firouzja was officially confirmed as the rating qualifier on the January ratings list.{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/fide-rating-january-2024|title=FIDE rating January 2024|publisher=Chessbase|date=1 January 2024}}
class="wikitable"
|+ Top ten on the January 2024 rating list ! Ranking ! Player ! Rating ! Candidates ! FIDE Circuit ! Eligible for rating qualification |
bgcolor=#ccccff
|1 |{{Flagicon|NOR}} Magnus Carlsen |2830 | Qualified{{cite web |author=Ben Morse |title=Magnus Carlsen defeats Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa to become Chess World Cup champion|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/24/sport/magnus-carlsen-chess-world-cup-rameshbabu-praggnanandhaa-spt-intl/index.html|website=CNN |date=24 August 2023}} |4 |No |
bgcolor=#ccccff
|2 |{{Flagicon|USA}} Fabiano Caruana |2804 |4+ |No |
bgcolor=#ccccff
|3 |{{Flagicon|USA}} Hikaru Nakamura |2788 |4+ |No |
bgcolor=#ffccff
|4 |{{Flagicon|CHN}} Ding Liren |2780 |2 |No |
bgcolor=#ccccff
|5 |{{flagicon|FIDE}} Ian Nepomniachtchi |2769 |4+ |No |
bgcolor=#ccffcc
|6 |{{Flagicon|FRA}} Alireza Firouzja |2759 |Qualified |4+ |Yes |
bgcolor=#ffcccc
|7 |{{Flagicon|USA}} Wesley So |2757 | - |4+ |Yes |
bgcolor=#ffcccc
|8 |{{Flagicon|USA}} Leinier Domínguez |2752 | - |4 |Yes |
bgcolor=#ffcccc
|9 |{{flagicon|FIDE}} Sergey Karjakin |2750 | - |0 |No |
bgcolor=#ffcccc
|10 |{{Flagicon|NED}} Anish Giri |2749 | - |4+ |Yes |
{{legend|#ccffcc|Qualified to Candidates by rating}}
{{legend|#ccccff|Qualified to Candidates by another path}}
{{legend|#ffccff|Not qualified to Candidates (already World Champion)}}
{{legend|#ffcccc|Not qualified to Candidates}}
Organization
The tournament was an eight-player, double round-robin tournament, meaning there were 14 rounds with each player facing each of the others twice: once with the white pieces and once with the black pieces. The tournament winner would qualify to play Ding Liren for the World Championship in 2024.
Players from the same federation were required to play each other in the first rounds of each half to discourage collusion. The players affected in the 2024 Candidates are R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Gukesh Dommaraju from India, and Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura from the United States. The former three all faced one another in rounds 1–3 and 8–10, while the latter two faced each other in rounds 1 and 8.
FIDE announced pairings for the tournament in March 2024.[https://candidates2024.fide.com/pairings Pairings]: accessed 4 March 2024
The arbitration team for the event were Chief Arbiter Aris Marghetis (CAN) and Deputy Chief arbiters Carolina Solis Munoz (CRC) and Andrew Howie (SCO).{{Cite web |title=Tournament Principals |url=https://candidates2024.fide.com/principals |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=candidates2024.fide.com |language=en}} Anna Burtasova served as the Press Officer.{{Cite web |title=Tournament Principals |url=https://candidates2024.fide.com/principals |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=FIDE Candidates 2024 |language=en}}
= Regulations =
The time control was 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 41. Players got 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.{{cite web |author=Anish Anand |title=FIDE Candidates 2024: Favourites, Format, Schedule and All You Need to Know|url=https://www.espn.in/chess/story/_/id/39858735/fide-candidates-2024-format-schedule-favourites-all-need-know|website=ESPN |date=2 April 2024}}
Tiebreaks for the first place would have been addressed as follows:
- If two players were tied, they would play two rapid chess games at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If a three- to six-way tie occurred, a single round-robin would be played. If seven or eight players are tied, a single round-robin would be played with a time limit of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move.
- If any players were tied for first after the rapid chess games, they would play two blitz chess games at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. In the case of more than two players being tied, a single round-robin would be played.
- If any players were still tied for first after these blitz chess games, the remaining players would play a knock-out blitz tournament at the same time control. In each mini-match of the proposed knock-out tournament, the first player to win a game would win the mini-match.
Ties for places other than first were broken by, in order: (1) Sonneborn–Berger score; (2) total number of wins; (3) head-to-head score among tied players; (4) drawing of lots.
The prize money is €48,000 for first place, €36,000 for second place, and €24,000 for third place (with players on the same number of points sharing prize money, irrespective of tie-breaks), plus €3,500 per half-point for every player, for a total prize pool of €500,000.
= Schedule =
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
class="wikitable" | |
Date
! Event | |
---|---|
Wednesday, 3 April | Opening ceremony |
style="background:lightgray"
| Thursday, 4 April | Round 1 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Friday, 5 April | Round 2 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Saturday, 6 April | Round 3 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Sunday, 7 April | Round 4 |
Monday, 8 April | Rest day |
style="background:lightgray"
| Tuesday, 9 April | Round 5 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Wednesday, 10 April | Round 6 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Thursday, 11 April | Round 7 |
Friday, 12 April | Rest day |
style="background:lightgray"
| Saturday, 13 April | Round 8 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Sunday, 14 April | Round 9 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Monday, 15 April | Round 10 |
Tuesday, 16 April | Rest day |
style="background:lightgray"
| Wednesday, 17 April | Round 11 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Thursday, 18 April | Round 12 |
Friday, 19 April | Rest day |
style="background:lightgray"
| Saturday, 20 April | Round 13 |
style="background:lightgray"
| Sunday, 21 April | Round 14 |
Monday, 22 April | Tie breaks (if required) Closing ceremony |
{{col-end}}
All rounds are scheduled to start at 14:30 EDT local time (18:30 UTC).{{cite web | url=https://candidates2024.fide.com/schedule | title=Schedule }}
Results
= Standings =
{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=Chess
|update=complete
|title=Standings of the 2024 Candidates Tournament
|postitle = Rank
|res_col_header=Q
|hide_played=yes
|score_over_played=yes
|score_width=82
|disp_fractions=no
|show_sb=yes
|sb_before_w=yes
|show_matches=true
|solid_cell=silver
|show_win=yes
|show_hth=no
| result1=WC
| col_WC=green1 | text_WC={{nowrap | Advance to title match}}
|name_CAR={{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|USA}} |short_CAR={{Abbr|FC|Fabiano Caruana}}
|name_ABA={{flagathlete|Nijat Abasov|AZE}} |short_ABA={{Abbr|NA|Nijat Abasov}}
|name_FIR={{flagathlete|Alireza Firouzja|FRA}} |short_FIR={{Abbr|AF|Alireza Firouzja}}
|name_GUK={{flagathlete|Gukesh Dommaraju|IND}} |short_GUK={{Abbr|GD|Gukesh Dommaraju}}
|name_VID={{flagathlete|Vidit Gujrathi|IND}} |short_VID={{Abbr|VG|Vidit Santosh Gujrathi}}
|name_PRA={{flagathlete|R Praggnanandhaa|IND}} |short_PRA={{Abbr|RP|Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa}}
|name_NEP={{flagathlete|Ian Nepomniachtchi|FIDE}} |short_NEP={{Abbr|IN|Ian Nepomniachtchi}}
|name_NAK={{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} |short_NAK={{Abbr|HN|Hikaru Nakamura}}
|team1=GUK
|team2=NAK
|team3=NEP
|team4=CAR
|team5=PRA
|team6=VID
|team7=FIR
|team8=ABA
|pos_GUK=1
|pos_NAK=2{{efn|name="hth1"|SB scores, total numbers of wins}}
|pos_NEP=3{{efn|name="hth1"|SB scores, total numbers of wins}}
|pos_CAR=4{{efn|name="hth2"|SB scores}}
|pos_PRA=5
|pos_VID=6
|pos_FIR=7
|pos_ABA=8
|match_CAR_ABA=1+½
|match_CAR_FIR=1+½
|match_CAR_GUK=½+½
|match_CAR_VID=1+½
|match_CAR_PRA=½+1
|match_CAR_NEP=½+½
|match_CAR_NAK=½+0
|hth_CAR=-
|match_ABA_CAR=½+0
|match_ABA_FIR=½+0
|match_ABA_GUK=0+0
|match_ABA_VID=½+½
|match_ABA_PRA=0+0
|match_ABA_NEP=½+½
|match_ABA_NAK=½+0
|hth_ABA=-
|match_FIR_CAR=½+0
|match_FIR_ABA=1+½
|match_FIR_GUK=1+0
|match_FIR_VID=½+0
|match_FIR_PRA=½+½
|match_FIR_NEP=½+0
|match_FIR_NAK=0+0
|hth_FIR=-
|match_GUK_CAR=½+½
|match_GUK_ABA=1+1
|match_GUK_FIR=1+0
|match_GUK_VID=½+1
|match_GUK_PRA=½+1
|match_GUK_NEP=½+½
|match_GUK_NAK=½+½
|hth_GUK=-
|match_VID_CAR=½+0
|match_VID_ABA=½+½
|match_VID_FIR=1+½
|match_VID_GUK=0+½
|match_VID_PRA=0+½
|match_VID_NEP=0+0
|match_VID_NAK=1+1
|hth_VID=-
|match_PRA_CAR=0+½
|match_PRA_ABA=1+1
|match_PRA_FIR=½+½
|match_PRA_GUK=0+½
|match_PRA_VID=½+1
|match_PRA_NEP=½+½
|match_PRA_NAK=0+½
|hth_PRA=-
|match_NEP_CAR=½+½
|match_NEP_ABA=½+½
|match_NEP_FIR=1+½
|match_NEP_GUK=½+½
|match_NEP_VID=1+1
|match_NEP_PRA=½+½
|match_NEP_NAK=½+½
|hth_NEP=-
|match_NAK_CAR=1+½
|match_NAK_ABA=1+½
|match_NAK_FIR=1+1
|match_NAK_GUK=½+½
|match_NAK_VID=0+0
|match_NAK_PRA=½+1
|match_NAK_NEP=½+½
|hth_NAK=-
}}
Tie-breakers for first place: (1) results in tie-break games for first place;
Tie-breakers for non-first place: (1) results in tie-break games for first place, if any; (2) Sonneborn–Berger score (SB); (3) total number of wins; (4) head-to-head score among tied players; (5) drawing of lots.[https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Regulations_for_the_FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2024.pdf Regulations for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024], (PDF) FIDE
Note: Numbers in the crosstable in a white background indicate the result playing the respective opponent with the white pieces (black pieces if on a black background). This does not give information which of the two games was played in the first half of the tournament, and which in the second.
= Points by round =
This table shows the total number of wins minus the total number of losses each player has after each round. '=' indicates the player has won and lost the same number of games after that round. Green backgrounds indicate the player(s) with the highest score after each round. Red backgrounds indicate player(s) who could no longer win the tournament after each round.{{efn|Players are marked in red if there is no permutation of remaining results that allows them to catch up the tournament leader(s) after remaining rounds.}}
class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:center; white-space: nowrap;"
! rowspan="2" |Rank ! rowspan="2" style="width:140px;" |Player ! colspan="14" |Rounds |
1
!2 !3 !4 !5 !6 !7 !8 !9 !10 !11 !12 !13 !14 |
---|
1
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Gukesh Dommaraju|IND}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +3 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +4 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +4 |
2
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Hikaru Nakamura|USA}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | −1 | −1 | −1 | = | = | = | +1 | = | +1 | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +3 | +3 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | +3 |
3
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Ian Nepomniachtchi|FIDE}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +2 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +3 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +3 | +3 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | +3 |
4
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Fabiano Caruana|USA}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | = | = | +1 | +1 | +2 | +3 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | +3 |
5
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|R Praggnanandhaa|IND}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | −1 | = | = | = | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | = | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | = | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −1 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | = |
6
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Vidit Gujrathi|IND}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | +1 | = | −1 | −1 | = | = | −1 | = | = | −1 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −2 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −2 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −2 |
7
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Alireza Firouzja|FRA}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | −1 | −1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −2 | −2 | −2 | −3 | −2 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −3 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −4 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −4 |
8
| align="left" |{{flagathlete|Nijat Abasov|AZE}} | bgcolor="#ccffcc" | = | −1 | −1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | −3 | −3 | −3 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −4 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −5 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −6 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −6 | bgcolor="#ffcccc" | −7 |
=Summary=
A poll before the tournament of Chessbase readers found Caruana a substantial favorite. Former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen echoed this opinion, albeit also thinking that Nakamura should likewise be counted among the favorites, with Nepomniachtchi and Firouzja also in contention.{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-who-will-win|title=Candidates: Who will win?|publisher=Chessbase|date=2 April 2024|access-date=8 April 2024}}
Round one resulted in all draws, albeit with some fighting chess,{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2024-open-1|title=Candidates R1: High-quality, fighting draws|publisher=Chessbase|date=5 April 2024}} before the tournament burst into life in round 2. Vidit used his preparation to surprise and ultimately defeat Nakamura, while Praggnanandhaa outprepared Gukesh, but overestimated his position and ended up losing. Caruana outplayed Abasov in a positional domination, and Nepomniachtchi–Firouzja was a back-and-forth affair that Nepomniachtchi eventually won.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-2|title=Vidit Ends Nakamura's 47-Game Unbeaten Streak On All-Decisive Day|publisher=chess.com|date=6 April 2024}} In round 3, Abasov and Nakamura agreed to an uneventful draw, while Gukesh was able to put Nepomniachtchi under pressure, but could not convert. Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, launched the highly adventurous Ruy Lopez Jaenisch Gambit Deferred, catching Vidit by surprise. He managed to navigate the resulting complex and double-edged position better than Vidit, earning the only win in the round.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-3|title=Brother/Sister Comeback: Praggnanandhaa Defeats Vidit, Vaishali Finds Her Groove|publisher=chess.com|date=7 April 2024}} Round 4 saw more fighting chess, but only one decisive game: Nepomniachtchi defeated Vidit in a Berlin endgame, propelling him into the sole lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-4|title=Nepomniachtchi Defeats Vidit, Takes Sole Lead; Tan Survives Major Scare|publisher=chess.com|date=8 April 2024}}{{Chess diagram
|fen=r3kb1r/1b3ppp/pqnppn2/1p6/4PBP1/PNN5/1PPQBP1P/2KR3R b kq - 0 13|align=tright|header=Gujrathi–Firouzja, round 6|footer=Behind in development and before having castled, Firouzja played 13...Qxf2?, a move commentators variously called "suicidal"{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-6|title=Tan Plays Attacking Gem In All-Decisive Day In Women's; Vidit, Praggnanandhaa Recover|publisher=Chess.com|date=11 April 2024}} and "overly daring".{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2024-open-6|title=Candidates R6: Vital wins for Pragg and Vidit|publisher=Chessbase|date=11 April 2024}}
}}In round 5, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit got strong positions against Nepomniachtchi and Caruana respectively, to come very close to winning, but both Nepomniachtchi and Caruana managed to survive. Meanwhile, both Abasov and Firouzja made crucial mistakes in the endgame to lose. The results meant Gukesh joined Nepomniachtchi in the lead.{{Cite web |last=Levin (AnthonyLevin) |first=Anthony |date=2024-04-09 |title=Gukesh Joins Lead, Nepomniachtchi Survives Praggnanandhaa's Killer Preparation |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-5 |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2024-open-5|title=Candidates R5: Gukesh and Nakamura score in eventful round|publisher=Chessbase|date=10 April 2024}} Both Abasov and Firouzja lost again in round 6, albeit in contrasting fashions. Praggnanandhaa outplayed Abasov after a tense middlegame, while Firouzja played 13...Qxf2? (diagram) to quickly land in a losing position. GM Daniel King suggested afterwards that Firouzja might be "on tilt".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8KmXJJOipU|title=Vidit Gujrathi vs Alireza Firouzja, FIDE Candidates 2024, Round 6|website=YouTube |date=10 April 2024 }} In round 7, Firouzja once again landed in a difficult position, but this time found the right moves to pose problems, and Gukesh made a mistake under time pressure to give Firouzja the win. The other games ended drawn, which meant Nepomniachtchi finished the first half as the sole leader.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-7|title=Firouzja Knocks Gukesh Out Of Lead, Nepomniachtchi Heads Tournament Again|website=chess.com|date=11 April 2024}}
The second half of the tournament began with a major shakeup in the standings. Tail-ender Abasov held a draw with Black against Nepomniachtchi, while Gukesh came back from his heartbreaking 7th round loss by defeating Vidit Gujrathi in spectacular fashion. This meant Gukesh joined Nepomniachtchi in first place. Meanwhile, Nakamura beat Caruana to join Praggnanandhaa in third place.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-8|date=15 April 2024|publisher=Chess.com|title=Nakamura Leapfrogs Caruana, Gukesh Re-enters Shared Lead With Nepomniachtchi}} In round 9, Vidit defeated Nakamura while the other games ended drawn. Among them, the tensest was Firouzja–Nepomniachtchi. Firouzja came close to winning, but Nepomniachtchi defended tenaciously to draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-9|title=Vidit Beats Nakamura Again, Tan Jumps Back Into Sole Lead Of Women's|publisher=Chess.com|date=14 April 2024}} Nakamura bounced back immediately in the next round with a win against Abasov after getting into a bad position, while Caruana also won against Firouzja. The top-of-the-table clash in round 10 between Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi ended in a draw, leaving the two still in the lead, with Caruana, Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa half a point behind.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-10|title=Nakamura, Caruana Bounce Back; Lei Joins Lead In Women's|publisher=chess.com|date=15 April 2024}} In round 11, Nakamura defeated Praggnanandhaa, while Nepomniachtchi defeated Vidit in a complicated game where both sides had chances. Gukesh–Caruana ended in a draw, leaving Nepomniachtchi once again in sole lead.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-11|title=Nepomniachtchi Recaptures Pole Position, Nakamura Dispatches Praggnanandhaa|publisher=chess.com|date=17 April 2024}}
{{Chess diagram
|fen=1k4r1/2q5/1p5Q/p1n3P1/4B3/P4P2/1P5p/1K5R w - - 0 1| align=tright| header=Caruana–Nepomniachtchi, round 14|footer=In this complicated position, Caruana's connected passed pawns give him a winning advantage, but the hasty 39. Bh7?! allowed 39...Rxg5! 40. Qxg5 Qxh7+ to eliminate one of the threatening passed pawns. Caruana still had an objectively winning position, but it was not easy to convert in practice.}}
In round 12, Nepomniachtchi drew his game, Nakamura won his third game in a row, and Gukesh and Caruana also won. This put Nepomniachtchi, Nakamura and Gukesh in a three-way tie for first, Caruana half a point behind, and no other player able to win the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-12|title=Nakamura Scores Hat Trick, Joins 3-Way Lead With Nepomniachtchi, Gukesh|publisher=chess.com|date=18 April 2024}} A critical round 13 saw Gukesh defeat Firouzja and Caruana defeat Praggnanandhaa, while Nepomniachtchi and Nakamura drew. This gave Gukesh a half-point lead over his three rivals going into the final round.{{Cite web |last=Levin |first=Anthony |date=2024-04-20 |title=Candidates Round 13: Gukesh Leads Before Last Round, Tan A Draw Away From Winning Women's |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-13 |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}} The final round saw Nakamura as white against Gukesh and Caruana white against Nepomniachtchi, with Nakamura, Caruana and Nepomniachtchi all needing to win. Gukesh and Nakamura's game ended in a fighting draw, with neither player ever having a decisive advantage. The game between Caruana and Nepomniachtchi was far more dramatic. Caruana played some exemplary chess to gain a winning advantage, but Nepomniachtchi defended stubbornly, constantly posing problems. A very complicated endgame resulted in which the engine evaluation oscillated back and forth, but Caruana made the last inaccuracy, and Nepomniachtchi successfully held the draw.{{cite web|url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-14|title=Gukesh Youngest Ever Candidates Winner, Tan Takes Women's By 1.5 Points|publisher=chess.com|date=22 April 2024}}
With the draw, Gukesh won the tournament and the right to play for the title against Ding Liren later in 2024.
{{clear}}
Nijat Abasov - Ian Nepomniachtchi, Candidates Tournament 2024 04.jpg|Abasov vs. Nepomniachtchi (Round 1)
Hikaru Nakamura - Fabiano Caruana, Candidates Tournament 2024 03.jpg|Nakamura vs. Caruana (Round 1)
Alireza Firouzja - R Praggnanandhaa, Candidates Tournament 2024 05.jpg|Firouzja vs. Praggnanandhaa (Round 1)
Alireza Firouzja - Gukesh D, Candidates Tournament 2024 01.jpg|Firouzja vs. Gukesh (Round 7)
Fabiano Caruana - R Praggnanandhaa, Candidates Tournament 2024 01.jpg|Caruana vs. Praggnanandhaa (Round 7)
Hikaru Nakamura - Ian Nepomniachtchi, Candidates Tournament 2024.jpg|Nakamura vs. Nepomniachtchi (Round 7)
Nijat Abasov - Vidit Gujrathi, Candidates Tournament 2024 07.jpg|Abasov vs. Vidit (Round 7)
= Results by round =
Notes
{{Notelist}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Candidates Tournament 2024}}
- [https://candidates.fide.com/ Official site], FIDE
- [https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbook/Regulations_for_the_FIDE_Candidates_Tournament_2024.pdf Regulations for the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024], FIDE
{{Candidates Tournaments}}
Category:April 2024 sports events in Canada