In the fifth round of the FIDE Candidates 2024, Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh registered a significant victory against Azerbaijan’s Nijat Abasov. This gruelling six-hour game played with white pieces at the Great Hall in Toronto, Canada, saw Gukesh demonstrate his tenacity and determination. Despite facing setbacks during the game, Gukesh’s ability to persevere and seize opportunities when they arose led to a well-deserved victory.
Gukesh wins a six-hour-long battle
The game started with Petrov’s Defence, where both players played a balanced opening. However, Abasov made a critical error by recapturing the white bishop with a knight instead of the queen. This gave Gukesh a slight advantage, which he maintained throughout the game. Despite making an incorrect move under time pressure, which nullified his advantage, Gukesh managed to grab an extra pawn in a complex queen’s endgame. This extra pawn eventually helped him seal the game in 87 moves.
With this victory, Gukesh joined Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi at the top of the points table as joint leader with 3.5 points in five rounds. This is Gukesh’s second win in the eight-player tournament, with his first win coming against compatriot R. Praggnanandhaa in the second round.
Gukesh is going to win, and this is the moment Abasov realizes it!https://t.co/QPKWAzfM2I#FIDECandidates pic.twitter.com/FYR71F0c2r
— chess24 (@chess24com) April 10, 2024
Meanwhile, other Indian participants in the tournament, R. Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi, secured draws in their respective games. Praggnanandhaa, the tournament’s youngest participant, demonstrated his formidable skills as he navigated a challenging encounter against Nepomniachtchi. Despite missing several winning continuations, Praggnanandhaa eventually secured a well-deserved draw.
Vidit Gujrathi, on the other hand, engaged in a tense battle against Fabiano Caruana. Vidit held a significant advantage before settling for a draw via perpetual checks. Despite initial frustration over missed opportunities, both players demonstrated resilience and strategic prowess during their match.
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