Candidates Chess 2024 standings after Round 8: Gukesh on top of ranks again after defeating Vidit Gujrathi
Candidates Chess 2024: Gukesh rose to to the top of the Candidates 2024 standings in the open section once more after defeating compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a Round 8 encounter. The 17-year-old prodigy from Chennai is joined at the top of the table by Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was held to a draw by Nijat Abasov.
There are six more rounds left at the Candidates. The winner of the open event gets to take on Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship next year. The winner of the women’s event gets to face off against China’s Ju Wenjun in the Women’s World Chess Championship.
On an incredible day in Toronto, Gukesh’s victory was sealed almost at the same time that World No 2 Fabiano Caruana resigned against American compatriot World No 3 Hikaru Nakamura. Gukesh and Caruana were joint second in the standings along with Praggnanandhaa after seven rounds in the Candidates 2024 tournament, which marked the halfway point of the double round robin tournament.
Praggnanandhaa also agreed to a draw against French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja, who had inflicted that heartbreaking defeat on Gukesh in Round 7.
Meanwhile, there was drama in the women’s event as well as leader Tan Zhongyi was handed a defeat by compatriot Lei Tingjie. In the battle of the two Indians, Humpy squandered her early advantage against Vaishali. But just when it looked like Vaishali would escape, she made a blunder which eventually led to her losing.
Results and current situation from Round 8 games at Candidates
Open section
Ian Nepomniachtchi drew Nijat Abasov
Hikaru Nakamura defeated Fabiano Caruana
Praggnanandhaa R drew with Alireza Firouzja
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi lost to Gukesh
Women’s category
Tan Zhongyi lost to Lei Tingjie
Kateryna Lagno drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina
Nurgyul Salimova drew with Anna Muzychuk
Humpy Koneru defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu
Standings after Round 8 at Candidates
Open standings after Round 8
(Standings updated after all Round 8 games ended on Sunday IST)
Women’s standings after Round 8
(Standings updated after all Round 8 games ended on Sunday IST)
Schedule for Indians from Round 9 to Round 14 at Candidates
ROUND 9 Open
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Hikaru Nakamura
Gukesh D – Praggnanandhaa R
ROUND 9 Women’s
Humpy Koneru – Kateryna Lagno
Vaishali Rameshbabu – Tan Zhongyi
ROUND 10 Open
Ian Nepomniachtchi – Gukesh D
Praggnanandhaa R – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
ROUND 10 Women’s
Nurgyul Salimova – Vaishali Rameshbabu
Tan Zhongyi – Humpy Koneru
ROUND 11 Open
Praggnanandhaa R – Hikaru Nakamura
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Ian Nepomniachtchi
Gukesh D – Fabiano Caruana
ROUND 11 Women’s
Humpy Koneru – Nurgyul Salimova
Vaishali Rameshbabu – Aleksandra Goryachkina
ROUND 12 Open
Nijat Abasov – Gukesh D
Fabiano Caruana – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Ian Nepomniachtchi – Praggnanandhaa R
ROUND 12 Women’s
Anna Muzychuk – Vaishali Rameshbabu
Aleksandra Goryachkina – Humpy Koneru
ROUND 13 Open
Praggnanandhaa R – Fabiano Caruana
Vidit Santosh Gujrathi – Nijat Abasov
Gukesh D – Alireza Firouzja
ROUND 13 Women’s
Humpy Koneru – Anna Muzychuk
Vaishali Rameshbabu – Lei Tingjie
ROUND 14 Open
Hikaru Nakamura – Gukesh D
Alireza Firouzja – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
Nijat Abasov – Praggnanandhaa R
ROUND 14 Women’s
Kateryna Lagno – Vaishali Rameshbabu
Lei Tingjie – Humpy Koneru
