A crucial day on the Candidates event, as we went into Spherical 12 with Ian Nepomniachtchi as the only chief on 7 factors, and Hikaru Nakamura and Gukesh D each chasing on 6.5 factors within the Open part. Important pairings had Gukesh towards the bottom seed, Abasov, as Nakamura confronted Alireza who has been having a weaker event. In the meantime, event chief Nepomniachtchi had his second assembly towards Praggnanandhaa. After an eventful spherical, Gukesh and Nakamura floor down their opponents, whereas Nepomniachtchi couldn’t do higher than a draw — giving us 3 leaders on 7.5 factors with simply two rounds left. Within the Ladies’s part, inevitable fatigue is beginning to kick in — very similar to within the Open part, additionally. Vaishali cleanly outplayed Anna Muzychuk, Koneru drew Goryachkina by repetition in a recreation the place it was solely Koneru that would push for a win, whereas Salimova and Tingjie acquired a bonus towards their opponents. First place within the Ladies’s part turns into a recreation for 2, with Zhongyi at 8 factors, intently adopted by Tingjie with 7.5, and sustaining a protected distance of two factors from the remainder of the opposition – with 2 rounds to go.
In addition to broadcasting the reside video games from the 2 tournaments, Lichess is offering a reside stream for every single day of the Candidates. Make certain to tune in to our Twitch or YouTube channels, with streams ranging from 14:15 Toronto time (18:15 UTC).
*We’re additionally offering every day annotations on among the video games from GM Brandon Jacobson and IM / WGM Padmini Rout. The complete examine may be discovered right here.
Schedule
Spherical Recap
Open Part
The only event chief, Nepomniachtchi, continued his unbeaten streak; the final time Nepomniachtchi was defeated within the Candidates was by Ding Liren in April 2021. That spectacular consistency was maintained right here. After a French Change with an early novelty, main materials was fairly rapidly traded off and regardless of some makes an attempt by Nepomniachtchi to get some possibilities from the place, Praggnanandhaa — coming off a loss — needed to cease the bleeding and shut down any makes an attempt. Praggnanandhaa efficiently defended, and the sport resulted in a draw — making Praggnanandhaa’s possibilities to win the Candidates nearly mathematically inconceivable, but additionally stymying Nepomniachtchi from clinching a transparent sole lead.
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Gukesh has lengthy been conserving tempo with Neopmniachtchi, and with a pairing towards Abasov this spherical was perceived as having respectable possibilities because of the ranking distinction, regardless of Gukesh having the black items. With an early novelty within the Nimzo-Indian, Gukesh created long run positional complications for Abasov with a horrific pawn construction. Nevertheless, Gukesh’s personal knight was cramped for an extended stretch of the sport, confined to the again rank. However, Gukesh managed to free his knight and make use of the larger positional benefit, and ultimately floor Abasov down within the endgame into a very successful place — racking up a full level and placing Gukesh again into the joint lead, additionally on 7.5 factors.
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Nakamura has additionally lately had a terrific resurgence within the event, coming off two victories on the trot. Immediately was no completely different, as he managed to rampage towards a desultory Firouzja, who had the black items. Additionally enjoying a French Change, the 2 pace demons went into a pointy and double-edged place which resolved to obviously favour Nakamura. A shock occurred with a mistake by Nakamura, giving up his benefit, however in a flurry of strikes Firouzja blundered simply after making the time management, and this time Nakamura didn’t give away his benefit. A 3rd win in a row for Nakamura, becoming a member of the main pack now additionally on 7.5 factors, and a horrible outcome for Firouzja, who seems to wrestle within the Candidates format.
https://lichess.org/examine/Mj0wdEVK/ziEVrYX9#0
It was one other good outcome for the American supporters, as Caruana went for a Giuoco Pianissimo towards Vidit. Caruana floor down Vidit, continuously pressuring and harrying at his place, build up a substantial positional after which materials benefit. A collection of errors, blunders, and inaccuracies by each gamers each earlier than and after the time management made it really feel as if Vidit might at one level maintain a draw, however a number of errors by Vidit value him the sport; event fatigue maybe setting into all gamers. The outcome places Caruana on 7 factors, only a half level away from the three event leaders — which means the event is nearly open for any of the gamers within the high 4 of the leaderboard to take.
https://lichess.org/examine/eJghIBZe/KG8VAFPr#0
Ladies Part
Salimova has been getting very nice, typically advantageous positions on this event, however – perhaps because of stress, perhaps because of lack of expertise in comparison with different individuals, or perhaps different causes fully, has additionally been struggling in relation to changing them into the total level. That was the case too together with her recreation between the event chief, Tan Zhongyi. Salimova, enjoying 1.Nf3 and coming into a King’s Indian Assault place, managed to get a very good place already out of the opening. The sport developed with Salimova having a very good management over the centre, and getting an even bigger benefit after 25… b6. Nevertheless, Salimova was not in a position to capitalise with it; the primary slip got here with 43. f6. Zhongyi managed to equalise and the sport later ended with a draw, in a fortunate escape for the event chief.
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The sport between Goryachkina and Koneru was one other one ending in a draw – and a really quick one. With the Catalan performed on the board, black managed to get a bonus after 17.Nxc4. Whereas Goryachkina managed to damage her opponent’s pawn construction, Koneru acquired the pin on the a-file and higher piece exercise in return. After 22. Rd7, one solution to proceed the sport could be to play Bd8, adopted by Ra6 (to unpin the c pawn) aiming to play c6 and exploit the pin. That being stated, Koneru opted to repeat strikes, with the sport ending in a draw.
https://lichess.org/examine/nlQcOgAz/a0no29uI#0
Lei Tingjie has been chasing her compatriot, Tan Zhongyi, and remains to be in shut competition to win the Ladies’s Candidates. Dealing with towards Kateryna Lagno with the white items, Tingjie went by way of a French Defence Advance, going into fairly a hardly ever performed sideline. Lagno gave the impression to be out of preparation, and Tingjie gained an early benefit, which by the early middlegame seemed imposing. Nevertheless, sustaining the benefit required precision with nearly every other transfer aside from 26…Qb6 making the place drawn. Tingjie seemingly discovered the transfer, however discarded it, and as a substitute performed 26…Nf3, giving up her benefit and permitting for a commerce of fabric and an eventual draw.
https://lichess.org/examine/nlQcOgAz/yfNAxm6l#0
Anna Muzychuk has sadly had fairly a nasty event efficiency, however with a pairing towards the newcomer Vaishali Rameshbabu could have been a chance for the veteran to get a win. With white, Muzychuk opted for 1. e4 going into a widely known Open Ruy Lopez line. Nevertheless, as quickly as getting out of the (well-travelled) opening line chosen, Muzychuk made a number of inaccuracies that gave Vaishali the leverage to get into the place. Taking part in completely, Vaishali step by step constructed up her benefit till it was fully crushing — the engine giving a number of pressured mating traces earlier than Muzychuk resigned — giving the newcomer, Vaishali, one other win.
https://lichess.org/examine/Mj0wdEVK/cSlHuT9k#0
Spherical 13 Preview
Within the Open, Ian Nepomniachtchi versus Hikaru Nakamura may very well be completely pivotal for each participant’s possibilities. Given each gamers fashion and the stakes on provide — this recreation might provide glittering tactical fireworks and provides us a transparent chief going into the ultimate spherical. Equally, Gukesh D versus Alireza Firouzja provides Gukesh an awesome likelihood to get a degree from a weakened Alireza with the white items, and permit Gukesh to avenge his personal loss of their first encounter.
Within the Ladies’s Candidates, Tan Zhongyi versus Aleksandra Goryachkina may very well be instrumental for Goryachkina who must win to maintain the mathematical chance of her successful the Ladies’s Candidates. Equally, Vaishali R performs towards Lei Tingjie, which if Tingjie wins or attracts will hold her possibilities alive.
