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Candidates 2024 R11: Gukesh holds World no.2 Fabiano Caruana again, stays in the hunt

by Shahid Ahmed - 18/04/2024

D Gukesh drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA) in Round 11 of FIDE Candidates 2024. It was another hard-fought battle which ended up arriving into a queen endgame. Unlike their first encounter, the queen endgame did not last long as Caruana was forced to go for perpetual checks. Vidit Gujrathi suffered a heartbreak as he missed a winning opportunity against Ian Nepomniachtchi. Although Vidit lost both of his game against Nepomniachtchi, he is the only player who was closest to ending Nepomniachtchi's unbeaten streak. R Praggnanandhaa played some uncharacteristic chess and imploded against Hikaru Nakamura (USA) in the endgame. Round 12 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 12 a.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Heartbreak for Vidit as Nepomniachtchi regains sole lead

D Gukesh and Hikaru Nakamura (USA) being closest to Ian Nepomniachtchi means they have a real practical chance to catch up or surpass him. Nepomniachtchi already showed his vulnerability against Vidit Gujrathi, something which is well-known to all. Even if he has more time on the clock, sometimes he feels like he needs to do something when he probably shouldn't, a sudden pawn push or a mistake and he falters.

Gukesh drew with Fabiano Caruana (USA) to stay in the hunt | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Praggnanandhaa - Nakamura: 0-1

R Praggnanandhaa (2747) exchanged pieces rapidly against Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2789) and went into an endgame in less than 20 moves. The computer said the double rook and four minor piece endgame to be balanced. However, practically it was not easy to play with the white pieces.

Position after 30.Kxe4

White made some peculiar decision. He ventured his king out in the open and arrived at a positionally lost situation. 30...Nxc3+ 31.bxc3 c5 32.Rf4 Bd5+ 33.Nh3 Ba8 and the knight is trapped.

Position after 34...Ba8

Despite the knight having three seemingly plausible squares where it can go, it cannot prevent the fall of it.

When Nakamura gets Pragmatic - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
How does Hikaru's wife Atousa help him during the FIDE Candidates 2024 | Video: ChessBase India
Post-game Press Conference with Hikaru Nakamura and R Praggnanandhaa | Video: FIDE
Praggmatic Victory! | Video: GMHikaru

Hikaru Nakamura (USA) virtually dashed R Praggnanandhaa's hopes| Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Vidit - Nepomniachtchi: 0-1

Ian Nepomniachtchi (2758) employed the Petroff Defence for the third time at this event. Vidit Gujrathi (2727) opted for a variation where the queens get traded. Nepomniachtchi as usual made an incorrect pawn move in the endgame, which ideally should have cost him the game.

Position after 36...d5

37.Nxd5 Nxd5 38.cxd5 c4+ 39.Kxc4 Rxa3 40.Rxa3 Bxa3 41.f3 and White is winning this endgame. It was not easy to find as White was low on the clock. Instead, White missed his opportunity when he played 37.Kc2? dxc4 Black managed to immediately shut down White's solitary chance and equalize the position. Vidit blundered eventually and lost the game.

Vidit Gujrathi's Ulimate Heartbreak - Vidit vs Nepo - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India
POV: You are Ian Nepomniachtchi and you are completely exhausted after your win | Video: ChessBase India
Post-game Press Conference with Ian Nepomniachtchi | Video: FIDE

Vidit Gujrathi missed a fantastic opportunity to beat Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Ian Nepomniachtchi relieved to win a game which he could have lost | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com
17-year-old Gukesh vs World no.2 Fabiano Caruana - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

The moment when both D Gukesh and Fabiano Caruana (USA) knows that it's a draw | Photo: Maria Emelianova/chess.com
"Gukesh and Pragg are more focused than me!" - Alireza Firouzja | Video: ChessBase India

Alireza Firouzja (FRA) made a short work of Nijat Abasov (AZE) in just 24 moves | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Canada no.1 - GM Evgeny Bareev made the ceremonial first move of Round 11 Open on Praggnanandhaa-Nakamura's board | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza
This man played three World Junior Championships with Vishy Anand - Vinod Puri | Video: ChessBase India

Time control

The time control for each game is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 41.

Prizes

The total prize fund is €500000. The top three prizes are €48000, €36000 and €24000. All prize money shall be divided equally among the players with the equal score after 14 rounds regardless tie-break results. In addition, each player gets €3500 euros for every half point scored.

Replay Round 11 live stream

FIDE Candidates 2024 Round 11 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal, IM Sagar Shah, GM Sethuraman S P and GM P Magesh Chandran | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 11 games

Round 11 results

Round 11 results | Photo: FIDE

Details

Standings after Round 11

Rk.SNo NameFEDRtgPts. TB1  TB2  TB3 
17
GMNepomniachtchi, IanFID2758735,2530
24
GMGukesh, DIND27436,535,0030
38
GMNakamura, HikaruUSA27896,533,0040
41
GMCaruana, FabianoUSA2803629,7520
56
GMPraggnanandhaa, RIND27475,528,0020
65
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiIND2727528,0030
73
GMFirouzja, AlirezaFRA27604,523,0020
82
GMAbasov, NijatAZE2632318,0000

Details

Round 12 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
172758
GMNepomniachtchi, IanGMPraggnanandhaa, R
27476
282789
GMNakamura, HikaruGMFirouzja, Alireza
27603
322632
GMAbasov, NijatGMGukesh, D
27434
412803
GMCaruana, FabianoGMVidit, Santosh Gujrathi
27275

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations


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