After yesterday’s tense day in Madrid, the top remains open and we might have more players re-entering the race for the World Championship match spot depending on how the ninth round plays out. Ian Nepomniachtchi is the sole leader with 6/8 points, with Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura trailing him with 1 and 1.5-point (respectively). FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2022 – R8 recap
Round 9 pairings:
Fabiano Caruana – Ian Nepomniachtchi
Alireza Firouzja – Richard Rapport
Teimour Radjabov – Hikaru Nakamura
Ding Liren – Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Fabiano Caruana – Ian Nepomniachtchi, R9 Candidates Chess 2022
All the eyes will be on the game between Fabiano Caruana and Ian Nepomniachtchi who are holding the first two places on the Candidates rankings. If the players safely keep their positions till the end of the event, both of them might end up in the World Chess Championship Match, as Magnus Carlsen could withdraw. (Read more: Anish Giri: “Nepo playing Fabi for the Wch title”) The second-round game between the players ended in a draw with Fabi having Black pieces and Caruana today needs to search for a full point to hunt the 1st place.
Replay the game – Ian Nepomniachtchi – Fabiano Caruana 1/2-1/2, R2 Candidates Chess
Alireza Firouzja – Richard Rapport, R9 Candidates Chess 2022
Richard Rapport yesterday scored a comeback win against Jan-Krzysztof Duda after a shocking loss he suffered against Nepo in the R7 of the Candidates. Rapport was close to throw away his computer, and decided not to open it at all for further preparations. (Read more: Richard Rapport on the R7 game vs Nepo: “I should probably throw away my computer”). Alireza Firouzja was considered to be one of the favorites to win the event, but he already lost his chances and still searches for the first victory at the tournament. The R2 encounter between the players ended in a draw.
Replay the game – Richard Rapport – Alireza Firouzja 1/2-1/2, R2 Canidates Chess 2022
Teimour Radjabov – Hikaru Nakamura, R9 Candidates Chess 2022
Hikaru Nakamura stole the show of the FIDE Candidates R8 as he defeated Fabiano Caruana and joined the race for the top. The second consecutive victory for Nakamura will open a dramatic finish of the event as the R12 game Nakamura-Nepo could decide the Winner. Teimour Radjabov on the other hand basically has no chances to qualify for the World Championship Match as he holds the last place with 3/8 points. The R2 game between Hikaru and Teimour ended in favor of the American who had whites. (Read more: Hikaru Nakamura: “Revenge is sweet!”)
Replay the game – Hikaru Nakamura – Teimour Radjabov 1-0, R2 Candidates Chess 2022
Ding Liren – Jan-Krzysztof Duda, R9 candidates Chess 2022
Ding Liren and Jan-Krzysztof Duda hold fifth and sixth places on the rankings of the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2022 after eight played rounds, scoring 3 and 3.5 points, respectively. The round two game between the players ended in a draw after solid play on both sides.
Replay the game – Jan-Krzysztof Duda – Ding Liren 1/2-1/2, R2 Candidates Chess 2022
