Candidates 2024: Indian GM D Gukesh continued his lead at the top of the Candidates 2024 standings after playing a draw with joint leader Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia on Monday in the 10th round.
Gukesh maintains the lead with a draw at Candidates 2024
The highly anticipated clash between the leaders – D Gukesh and Ian Nepomniachtchi ended in a solid draw. Gukesh, who has been performing exceptionally well in the tournament, managed to hold his ground against Nepomniachtchi, a two-time world chess championship contender. This draw allowed both players to maintain their lead in the tournament.
The All-Indian clash between R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi also ended in a draw. Praggnanandhaa, fondly known as Pragg, showcased his skills and strategy, ensuring he stayed close on the heels of the leaders. With this draw, Praggnanandhaa is just half a point behind the leaders, standing at 5.5/10 while Vidit stands at 5/10.
In the women’s section, India’s R Vaishali registered a rare win after a string of losses while Koneru Humpy held women’s leader Tan Zhongyi to a draw. After losing four games in succession, Vaishali finally turned the tides in her favour to win her round 10 clash against Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova. Playing the Grunfeld defence game, three pawns, a rook, a bishop, and a knight were already exchanged by the 15th move.
Overall Standings at Candidates 2024
Standings | After Round 10 | #FIDECandidates
Ian Nepomniachtchi and 🇮🇳 Gukesh D are co-leaders after 10 rounds. They are closely followed by a pack of 3 tailing by half a point, 🇺🇸 Fabiano Caruana, Praggnanandhaa R and 🇺🇸 Hikaru Nakamura. pic.twitter.com/ArzjMl82yD
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 16, 2024
After the 10th round, Gukesh is jointly leading the tournament with Nepomniachtchi, both scoring 6 points. Praggnanandhaa is not far behind, sharing the second spot with Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, each with 5.5 points. Vidit Gujrathi is at the 6th position with 5 points.
With only four rounds left, the tournament is poised for an exciting finish. The performances of the Indian players, especially Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa, have been commendable. Their strategic gameplay and resilience have kept them in contention for the top spots. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how these players manoeuvre their strategies to maintain their positions.
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