FIDE Candidates Round 14 Recap: Gukesh and Tan Zhongyi Emerge Victorious

The 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament was one for the history books. Over 14 thrilling rounds, Indian GM Gukesh D emerged as the youngest-ever winner of the Candidates at just 17 years old, securing a spot in the upcoming world championship match against reigning champion Ding Liren. Meanwhile, former world champion Tan Zhongyi dominated the women's section, finishing 1.5 points ahead of the competition.

The final round of the Open section was set for a dramatic finish, featuring four main contenders: Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and Gukesh, all squaring off against each other. Gukesh and Nakamura drew after a fairly equal game, shifting the spotlight to Caruana, who had the opportunity to tie for first place with a victory over Nepomniachtchi. Despite a series of promising opportunities, Caruana failed to capitalize on his advantage and ultimately had to settle for a draw. We'll take a closer look at the critical moments of this pivotal game.

In the remaining two boards, Alireza Firouzja and Vidit Gujrathi made a quick draw in 14 moves, while Praggnanandhaa claimed the only win of the round by defeating Nijat Abasov. See the final standings of the Open section below:

• 1. Gukesh 9
• 2. Nakamura 8,5
• 3. Nepomniachtchi 8,5
• 4. Caruana 8,5
• 5. Praggnanandhaa 7
• 6. Vidit 6
• 7. Firouzja 5
• 8. Abasov 3,5

Moving to the Women’s Candidates, Tan Zhongyi missed her opportunity against Anna Muzychuk, allowing a perpetual check that resulted in a draw. Nonetheless, this outcome was enough to secure her top position in the tournament. Despite stating, "Right now competitive chess is not my number-one priority," her performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of remarkable. Let’s take a closer look at this critical game that helped secure her victory.

On boards 2 and 3, Indian chess players Rameshbabu Vaishali and Humpy Koneru both secured victories, propelling them up the tournament standings to share second place alongside Lei Tingjie. Lei Tingjie, known for her combative play, opted for a bold Queen sacrifice in her game against Koneru, aiming for a win. Despite her aggressive approach, she couldn't overcome Koneru's solid defense and eventually lost the game. On board 4, the match ended in a draw, although Aleksandra Goryachkina had several chances to clinch a full point.

The final standings of the women's section are as follows:

• 1. Tan Zhongyi 9
• 2. Koneru 7,5
• 3. Lei Tingjie 7,5
• 4. Vaishali 7,5
• 5. Goryachkina 7
• 6. Lagno 6,5
• 7. Salimova 5,5
• 8. Muzychuk 5,5

Game Annotations by Zaven Andriasyan

Photos by Michal Walusza / FIDE Flickr Page