The Men's Candidates Chess Tournament for 2024 is all set to get underway in Canada from April 3. The winner of the eight-player tournament will earn the right to challenge current World Champion, China's Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship.
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World No.1 Magnus Carlsen was to take part in the tournament, as the winner of the Chess World Cup in 2023 but withdrew stating that he 'did not enjoy' the current format of the tournament. Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov will take his place.
Three Indian players will be in action in the men's tournament; R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Gukesh D.
Candidates Chess tournament draw: Gukesh D to open campaign against Vidit Gujrathi
Praggnanandhaa qualified for the tournament as the runner-up in the Chess World Cup, while Gujrathi won the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament last year. Gukesh, the highest-rated of the three, made it through as the winner of the FIDE Circuit.
The draw for the tournament was completed last night, and will see Gukesh take on Gujrathi in the very first round. Round two will see a face-off between Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh, while round 3 has paired Gujrathi and Praggnanandhaa. Each player in the tournament will play every other player twice, for a total of 14 matches.
In the women's tournament, played simultaneously, R Vaishali (Women's Grand Swiss winner) and Koneru Humpy (Highest rating for January 2024) are the Indian contenders to win the tournament and take on Ju Wenjun.
First round draw for Men's Candidates Chess Tournament 2024:
Fabiano Caruana vs Hikaru Nakamura
Nijat Abasov vs Ian Nepomniachtchi
Alireza Firouzja vs R Praggnanandhaa
Gukesh D vs Vidit Gujrathi
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