Candidates Chess Tournament: As the countdown starts, D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa are in the running

As the Candidates chess competition moves closer to its conclusion, Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh will face Fabiano Caruana, the tournament’s top seed, in the 11th round. He will need to work hard to maintain his lead.

Gukesh, 17, is tied for first place with Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia.

After a rest day, the other Indians, including eighteen-year-old R Praggnanandhaa, will face a rejuvenated American in Hikaru Nakamura.

With only four rounds left, Vidit Gujrathi has maintained his position in the running and has just to finish well, while the two Indian teens are on an even playing field.

The lone player who hasn’t lost so far, Nepomniachtchi, is competing under the FIDE banner and faces formidable opposition in the next two rounds.

The following round will see Gujrathi take on Nepomniachtchi, then Praggnanandhaa. These two matches are likely to set the tone and might even prove to be crucial in determining who will fight for the World Championship in the future.

Given that Caruana has white pieces, Gukesh believes that their matchup will be vital. Caruana will have the burden of proving his critics incorrect if he is successful in pressing for the upper hand.

The American-Italian competitor is in his sixth consecutive race, although he has only emerged victorious once.

If Gukesh survives Caruana, he will likely focus on defeating Abasov, who is ranked last, in the 12th round. Even though Abasov has been playing very well with his white pieces, Gukesh, who is matched up against the Azerbaijani with black, will undoubtedly give it his best to win.

Praggnanandhaa, who defeated Nakamura in the most recent World Cup, is eager for a rematch, particularly if he can learn from Gujrathi, who has triumphed in both of his encounters with the American.

Nepomniachtchi will go after Nakamura, and if he can handle the strain of these two matches, he should be able to compete for the €48,000 winner’s reward.

Zhongyi Tan and Tingjie Lei, two Chinese competitors who have outperformed the others, are in the women’s division.

The Indian challenge has all but finished at this phase, but realistically Koneru Humpy could still be in the running.