Candidates Chess: Gukesh maintains joint lead position; Vidit, Praggnanandhaa clinch big wins

India’s Vidit Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa clinched thumping victories over Firouaz Alizera and Nijat Abasov respectively in the sixth round of the 2024 Candidates Chess tournament in Toronto on Wednesday. Gukesh, meanwhile, held world number three Hikaru Nakamura to a draw to maintain the joint-top position in the tournament with Ian Nepomniachtchia as Indian grandmasters continued to impress.

Nepomniachtchi also played out a draw, against American Fabiano Caruana, who is the top seed.

India’s women players, however, disappointed on Wednesday. R Vaishali, sister of R Praggnanandhaa, lost to Russia’s Kateryna Lagno, who, like Ian, is playing under the FIDE flag. Koneru Humpy too lost her match, to China’s Tingje Lei. In another match, Aleksandra Goryachkina defeated Bulgaria’s Nurgyul Salimova while Zhongyi Tan of China won against Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.

Praggnanandhaa began as a favourite against Abasov and ended the match that way. He was at his technical best against the opponent from Azerbaijan and for the young Chennai player, it’s just about playing well.