The third round of the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2022 is the last one to be played before the players go on the first resting day of the event. Round 3 features the following encounters: Ding Liren – Richard Rapport / Fabiano Caruana – Jan-Krzysztof Duda / Teimour Radjabov – Ian Nepomniachtchi / Alireza Firouzja – Hikaru Nakamura

Ding Liren – Richard Rapport, R3 Candidates Chess 2022
The Chinese grandmaster had a slow start at the event which was possibly affected by difficulties he faced on the road to reach the Candidates (completing 28 games in a short time to be eligible to qualify for the event, and then avoiding the current pandemic lockdown to get to Madrid). Ding Liren and Richard Rapport’s latest otb game was played in Saint Louis back in 2019. It was the blitz encounter finishing after 20 moves of play with Ding Liren winning with Whites.
Replay the game – Ding Liren – Richard Rapport 1-0, Saint Louis Blitz 2019

Fabiano Caruana – Jan-Krzysztof Duda, R3 Candidates Chess 2022
Fabiano Caruana and Jan-Krzysztof Duda had played their last classical game in January 2022, at the Tata Steel Chess tournament. Caruana won the game despite having Black pieces.
Replay game here – Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Fabiano Caruana 0-1, Tata Steel Chess 2022

Teimour Radjabov – Ian Nepomniachtchi, R3 Candidates Chess 2022
Teimour Radjabov and Ian Nepomniachtchi had an over-the-board encounter last year during the Grand Chess Tour Paris event. The latest otb (blitz) game finished in favor of Nepo who had Black pieces.
Replay the game – Teimour Radjabov – Ian Nepomniachtchi 0-1, GCT Paris Blitz 2019

Alireza Firouzja – Hikaru Nakamura, R3 Candidates Chess 2022
Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura have recently played a few “real chess” at the over-the-board tournaments. They had plenty of Online encounters, and the latest otb happened in Warsaw at the World Rapid Chess Championship 2021. The game ended in a draw.
Replay the game – Alireza Firouzja – Hikaru Nakamura 1/2-1/2, Wch Warsaw Rapid

