The FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) has reached a verdict on the case 2/2022, relating to public statements by grandmasters Sergey Karjakin (FIDE ID 14109603). The Russian player is found guilty by the panel and Karjakin is banned for 6 months from FIDE rated competitions, missing the Candidates Chess 2022.
Who can replace Karjakin in the Candidates 2022
The regulations of the Candidates 2022 (full version here) states:
2.3 If any replacement is needed, the highest-rated player in the FIDE May 2022 standard rating list shall be invited, provided he/she has at least 30 standard games rated in the FIDE rating lists from June 2021 to May 2022.
Carlsen leads the rating list, but he is the one awaiting the challenger. With Alireza Firouzja, currently in second position, already qualified via the FIDE Grand Swiss, it is the third place in the ratings that matters. Ding Liren is currently third with 2799 ELO, but he has only 4 games played, meaning he will have to play extra 26 games by May. Levon Aronian is fourth with 2785. Fabiano Caruana fifth, but already qualified via the Grand Swiss as runner-up. Welsey So sixth with 2778. Richard Rapport is virtually qualified, so next is Anish Giri with 2772.
Aronian, Wesley So, and Giri have all completed the condition of having 30+ rated games in the FIDE rating lists from June 2021 to May 2022. They all start in the Berlin FIDE Grand Prix which you can follow live on Chessdom
