The seventh round of the Candidates 2024 tournament, held in Toronto, Canada, proved to be a challenging day for the Indian contingent. Despite high hopes and strong performances, none of the five Indian players managed to secure a win.
Candidates 2024: Gukesh loses in a dramatic fashion
One of India’s top competitors, D. Gukesh, faced a disappointing defeat against France’s Alireza Firouzja. Gukesh was up a pawn and pressing his opponent when he miscalculated and went for a piece of sacrifice that he thought was winning. However, Firouzja found a great defensive resource, completely equalizing. In the time scramble, Gukesh made another grave mistake, and his position quickly collapsed soon after. This defeat was a blow to Gukesh’s hopes of taking the lead in the men’s category.
R. Vaishali, another promising Indian player, also faced a loss in this round. She struggled against China’s Lei Tingjie and eventually lost.
Draws for Vidit Gujrathi, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Koneru Humpy
Despite dominating much of his game, Vidit Gujrathi was forced to settle for a draw against Nijat Abasov, who ranked last in the standings. Vidit was frustrated by the missed opportunity to convert his advantage into a win.
R. Praggnanandhaa, another promising Indian talent, drew an even match against Fabiano Caruana, demonstrating his resilience and skill on the board.
Koneru Humpy, the other women’s category contender from India, continued her search for a first win as she settled for a draw against Anna Muzychuk. Despite her efforts, a victory remained elusive.
Chess is so painful sometimes 🥺❤️
Edit: @ram_abhyudaya #chess #chessbaseindia #candidates2024 #gukesh pic.twitter.com/bnuzz93nOr
— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) April 12, 2024
The results of the seventh round were indeed a setback for the Indian team. However, as the tournament progresses, the Indian players will look to regroup and come back stronger in the following rounds. The journey is far from over, and there are still opportunities for the Indian contingent to turn things around and make their mark in the Candidates 2024 tournament.
