The Week in Chess

The FIDE Candidates in Toronto, Canada has reached the final rest day. With two rounds to go three players, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Gukesh and Hikaru Nakamura lead with 7.5/12 half a point clear of Fabiano Caruana, one of these players will win the event. There will be day of tie-breaks on Monday if required, although I'd rather there be a clear winner. Intriguingly pairings include Nepomniachtchi-Nakamura in round 13 and Nakamura-Gukesh and Caruana-Nepomniachtchi in the final round.

Nepomniachtchi chose the Exchange French against Praggnanandhaa and after 9 moves black was already level. Praggnanandhaa might have been a tiny bit better (33...c6!?) but the game fizzled out to a draw. A wasted white for Nepomniachtchi that he may come to regret.

Nakamura also chose the Exchange French Defence as white against Alireza Firouzja but with 7.Qa4+ the game became very offbeat and sharp. Nakamura then offered a pawn and major complications arose. 17.a3 d4!? (17...Nxf2 was the computer choice). Black got level play until 21...Nxe1? (21...Qd7=) then Nakamura took over until 34.Be1?!= let Firouzja back in the game. Firouzja made time control but his first move after 41.g5? (41.Ra3!) was the decisive mistake.

Gukesh as black managed to put Nijat Abasov under pressure right from the opening when he seemed to predict his opponent's replies to his unusual Nimzo Indian. Gukesh won Abasov's a-pawn but was a very long way from converting it, 37.c4?! (37.Ra2!) was the start concessions leading to a won position by move 41 for Gukesh which he then converted.

Fabiano Caruana knew he almost certainly had to beat Santosh Vidit today to stay in contention. In a Giuoco Piano Caruana got a little something to play with after 23.Qc5, not much according to the engines but enough to put pressure on Vidit. Caruana won a pawn on move 35 but 37.Rh5? (35.b4) misplaced the rook and allowed Vidit saving chances but 40...Rb8? (40...Qf4) was a losing error. 43.Bf5?! (43.b5!) wasn't the most accurate but Caruana soon won anyway.

Round 12 Standings: 1st= Gukesh, Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi 7.5pts, 4th Caruana 7pts, 5th Praggnanandhaa 6pts, 6th Vidit 5pts, 7th Firouzja 4.5pts, 8th Abasov 3pts.

Rest day 19th April 2024.

Round 13 20th April at 19:30BST: Nepomniachtchi-Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa-Caruana, Vidit-Abasov, Gukesh-Firouzja.

Round 14 21st April at 19:30BST: Nakamura-Gukesh, Firouzja-Vidit, Abasov-Praggnanandhaa, Caruana-Nepomniachtchi.