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The Candidates' chess tournament in Toronto is nearing its climax, with just two rounds remaining. Indian prodigy D Gukesh, currently tied for the lead with 7.5 points, faces a crucial challenge against Firouza Alireza of France in the penultimate round. A victory for Gukesh would significantly boost his chances of securing a spot in the World Championship match.Alireza, who has been struggling in the tournament, will be a formidable opponent for Gukesh. However, the Indian Grandmaster has shown impressive form throughout the event and will be confident of overcoming this hurdle.The other key clash in the penultimate round will be between Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Hikaru Nakamura of the United States. Nepomniachtchi, the only undefeated player in the tournament, will be looking to maintain his momentum, while Nakamura has been in excellent form, winning three consecutive games.Fabiano Caruana of the United States is the only other player with a realistic chance of winning the event. With seven points, he faces a tough challenge against R Praggnanandhaa of India and Nepomniachtchi in the final round.Praggnanandhaa, who had shown early promise in the tournament, has struggled in recent rounds. However, the Indian prodigy remains a dangerous opponent and could still finish on the podium.Another Indian, Vidit Gujrathi, had a promising start but has since fallen behind. Nerves and time pressure have played a role in his setbacks, and he will need to perform better in the remaining rounds to secure a respectable finish.In the women's section, Zhongyi Tan of China holds a narrow lead with eight points. Her closest contender is compatriot Tingjie Lei, who is half a point behind. The two leaders are followed by Aleksandra Goryachkina and Kateryna Lagno of Russia, along with Koneru Humpy of India, who are all tied on six points.R Vaishali of India is in sixth place with 5.5 points, while Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine and Nurgyul Salimovaa of Bulgaria are tied for seventh place with 4.5 points.

India's D Gukesh remains in contention for the World Championship challenger spot after Round 12 of the Candidates tournament, sharing the lead with Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura. With just two rounds remaining, the race for the coveted title is heating up.Gukesh, known for his aggressive style, employed a rare opening idea in the Nimzo-Indian against Nijat Abasov. The Azerbaijani was caught off guard and struggled to find logical moves. Gukesh's plan to unsettle his opponent and play for a win proved successful, as Abasov missed drawing chances in the endgame.Fabiano Caruana, who had a slow start to the tournament, has surged back into contention with a win over India's Vidit Gujrathi. Caruana's victory keeps him half a point behind the leaders.Nakamura, the American grandmaster, has also joined the leading trio after defeating Alireza Firouzja. Nakamura has won three consecutive games, putting him in a strong position to challenge for the World Championship.The only draw in the Open section came between Praggnanandhaa and Nepomniachtchi.In the Women's section, Kateryna Lagno and Lei Tingjie drew their match, while Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated Anna Muzychuk. Aleksandra Goryachkina and Koneru Humpy also played out a draw, while Nurgyul Salimova and Tan Zhongyi shared the point.With two rounds remaining, the tension is palpable as the players vie for the chance to challenge the reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen. Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi, and Nakamura are the frontrunners, but Caruana and Praggnanandhaa are still in the hunt.

Vidit Gujrathi's hopes of winning the Candidates Tournament took a severe blow as he squandered two winning chances against Ian Nepomniachtchi in Round 11. The Indian missed critical opportunities at moves 34 and 37, allowing the Russian to seize the initiative and eventually secure victory.Gujrathi's defeat was compounded by losses for fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh. Praggnanandhaa was surprised by Hikaru Nakamura's Krause variation in the Queen's Gambit, while Gukesh was unable to convert a slight advantage against Fabiano Caruana.Nakamura, who has now won three of his last four games, advised Gujrathi to play solidly and avoid taking unnecessary risks. "The way to play this tournament is to play good moves and not go crazy," he said.Despite the setbacks in the Open section, Indian women R Vaishali and Koneru Humpy brought some cheer with victories over Aleksandra Goryachkina and Nurgyul Salimova, respectively.Gujrathi's defeat leaves him trailing Nepomniachtchi by a full point with three rounds remaining. The Indian will need to regroup and find his winning form if he is to challenge for the top spot.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, has reached its penultimate stage with the standings in constant flux.In Round 11, Indian prodigy D Gukesh faced a time crunch against Fabiano Caruana and had to settle for a draw. Fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi suffered losses, further complicating the race for the title.Ian Nepomniachtchi, a two-time Candidates winner, showcased his resilience by securing a victory with Black against Vidit Gujrathi. Despite facing two lost positions in a marathon game, Nepomniachtchi managed to turn the tables and move into sole lead. Vidit's decision to push for a win in a seemingly equal position proved costly, as he missed multiple winning chances and ultimately handed Nepomniachtchi a crucial victory.Hikaru Nakamura joined Gukesh in second place with 6.5/11 after defeating Praggnanandhaa with Black. Praggnanandhaa's time constraints allowed Nakamura to maintain pressure and convert an edge into a vital win.Caruana expressed relief with his draw against Gukesh, acknowledging that his opponent had created a slight advantage. "The main thing was not to lose," Caruana said.In the women's section, Tan Zhongyi extended her lead to 7.5/11 with a victory over Kateryna Lagno. Humpy Koneru and Vaishali Rameshbabu also secured wins, while Lei Tingjie and Anna Muzychuk drew.Round 13 pairings will see Nakamura face Alireza Firouzja, Gukesh take on Nijat Abasov, Caruana play Vidit Gujrathi, and Nepomniachtchi face Praggnanandhaa.In the women's tournament, Lagno will face Lei Tingjie, Muzychuk will play Vaishali Rameshbabu, Aleksandra Goryachkina will meet Humpy Koneru, and Nurgyul Salimova will challenge Tan Zhongyi.

The Candidates Tournament, a prestigious event that determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship, witnessed a crucial Round 10 battle between co-leaders Ian Nepomniachtchi and D Gukesh. The highly anticipated clash ended in a draw, leaving the tournament standings unchanged.Gukesh, playing with the Black pieces, surprised Nepomniachtchi by deviating from the Berlin Defense to the Cozio Defense. The Indian prodigy equalized quickly out of the opening, and after the minor pieces were exchanged, the players agreed to a draw on Move 40. Gukesh expressed satisfaction with the result, acknowledging Nepomniachtchi's dangerous nature with White.Meanwhile, Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura emerged victorious in the only two decisive games of the open section. Caruana, ranked second in the world, defeated Alireza Firouzja, who has seemingly fallen out of contention. Caruana played the risky 6.Rg1?! and introduced a novelty with Bc4 on the seventh move. Firouzja made several errors, including 30...h4 and 32...Rh5, before both players entered a time scramble. Caruana's superior endgame skills proved decisive.Nakamura, recovering from a loss in the previous round, defeated the lowest-rated player, Nijat Abasov. Despite time troubles, Nakamura managed to secure the win.In the women's section, Lei Tingjie continued her impressive run by defeating Aleksandra Goryachkina. Tan Zhongyi and Kateryna Lagno drew their game, while Vaishali R upset Nurgyul Salimova.

Vidit Gujrathi, the unassuming Indian chess prodigy, has emerged as a formidable contender in the prestigious Candidates Tournament. Despite not being a top seed or a prodigious talent, Gujrathi has persevered against the odds, carving his space in the competition with six decisive games in nine rounds.Gujrathi's journey to the Candidates has been a testament to his resilience. Unlike his fellow Indian prodigies, he has taken a longer path to the top. However, the pandemic and the rise of younger Indian GMs led him to question his place in the race.Undeterred, Gujrathi embarked on a rigorous preparation for the Grand Swiss in November 2023, which he won, securing his spot in the Candidates. At the tournament, he has displayed both brilliance and vulnerability. He has defeated world No. 3 Hikaru Nakamura twice, but has also suffered some costly time management errors.Gujrathi's team, including his sister Vedika and trainers Surya Sekhar Ganguly and Daniel Vucaturo, has played a crucial role in his success. They provide him with support and guidance, helping him navigate the emotional rollercoaster of the tournament.With only five rounds remaining, Gujrathi stands a point behind leaders Ian Nepomniachtchi and Gukesh. The contest is intensifying, and Gujrathi is determined to put up a fight to remember. He understands the pressure and emotions involved, but remains focused on staying in the zone and avoiding time-wasting mistakes.Gujrathi's journey is an inspiration to all who dare to dream big. He has proven that with hard work, perseverance, and a strong support system, anything is possible.

In the eighth round of the Candidates chess tournament in Toronto, India's D Gukesh regained his joint lead with Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia after a decisive victory over compatriot Vidit Gujrathi. Gukesh's triumph came on a day when R Praggnanandhaa drew with Firouza Alireza of France, while Hikaru Nakamura defeated Fabiano Caruana in an all-American duel.Gukesh's victory was a testament to his tactical prowess. He surprised Gujrathi with a rare variation in the opening, forcing his opponent into a long thought process that cost him valuable time. Gukesh seized control of the only open file and used his queen and rook to penetrate Gujrathi's defenses. Despite Gujrathi's resistance, Gukesh's pressure proved too much, and he eventually checkmated his opponent in 38 moves.Praggnanandhaa, on the other hand, was unable to make significant progress with his white pieces against Alireza. The Indian opted for a variation in the Sicilian Taimanov that Alireza equalized without much difficulty. The players reached an equal endgame after the Queens were traded, and the draw was agreed upon ten moves later.Nakamura continued his dominance over Caruana, defeating the world number two in just 35 moves. Nakamura took his chances in the closed Ruy Lopez and capitalized on Caruana's unwarranted complications in the middle game. Caruana's time shortage also played a role in his downfall, as he missed a tactic in a difficult position.In the Women's section, Koneru Humpy scored a crucial victory over compatriot R Vaishali to move up to 3.5 points. Humpy's technical prowess proved superior to Vaishali's in an exchange down endgame, as her pair of rooks eventually outmaneuvered Vaishali's Bishop and Rook.The ninth round promises an exciting clash between Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa in the men's section, while Gujrathi faces the in-form Nakamura. The tournament remains wide open, with six rounds still to play.

In the ongoing Candidates Tournament, D Gukesh has regained a share of the lead after a comfortable victory over fellow Indian Vidit Gujrathi in Round 8. The second half of the double round-robin tournament commenced with reversed colors, and Gukesh capitalized on Vidit's time management struggles.Vidit's early time pressure, coupled with Gukesh's strategic pawn moves, led to a gradual loss of control over the a-file. Vidit's unnecessary pawn push on b5 and subsequent d4 advance proved detrimental, allowing Gukesh to dominate the open file with his rook and queen. Gukesh's precise play left Vidit with no counterplay, forcing him to resign.With this win, Gukesh joins Ian Nepomniachtchi at the top of the standings with five points. Despite the pressure, Gukesh remains composed, stating, "I've learnt to handle it. So far, I've handled it well."Hikaru Nakamura also made a significant move in the standings, defeating Fabiano Caruana to leapfrog ahead of his compatriot. Caruana, who entered the tournament as a favorite, has shown signs of vulnerability, and his blunder against Nakamura proved costly.Nakamura, who has now won four consecutive classical games against Caruana, attributes his success to his lack of pressure. "I feel no pressure in the Candidates. I'm playing for fun," he said. "I'm not saying I wouldn't be happy if I won. I'm just trying to play good chess and not make a fool of myself."

Indian chess prodigies R Praggnanandhaa and D Gukesh aim to close the gap on tournament leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia as the Candidates chess tournament resumes in Toronto for its eighth round.Praggnanandhaa, known for his aggressive style, will face Frenchman Firouza Alireza, while Gukesh will take on compatriot Vidit Gujarathi. Nepomniachtchi, the defending champion, holds a comfortable lead with 4.5 points, half a point ahead of Praggnanandhaa, Gukesh, and Fabiano Caruana of the United States.Gujarathi, with 3.5 points, is known for his late-tournament surges, while Hikaru Nakamura shares fifth place with him. Alireza sits in seventh place with 2.5 points, followed by Nijat Abasov of Azerbaijan.The Indian trio has shown flashes of brilliance but has also faced setbacks. Gujrathi outplayed Caruana but settled for draws in promising positions. Gukesh had a strong position against Alireza but made costly mistakes. Praggnanandhaa has been solid, notably drawing with Caruana in a French defense and defeating Gujrathi.Against Alireza, Praggnanandhaa will seek to capitalize on his white pieces. "I have been playing quite well and am happy with the quality," he said. Gukesh, with black pieces against Gujrathi, will aim to make a statement.Nepomniachtchi and Caruana remain the only unbeaten players at the halfway stage. Nepomniachtchi has led the tournament after 50% of games in his previous two victories. Caruana, known for his explosive play, is a potential threat.In the women's section, Indian hopes have not materialized. Konery Humpy and R Vaishali are at the bottom of the standings with 2.5 points each, while Zhongyi Tan leads with five points. Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia is Tan's closest challenger.