chessbase india logo

Candidates 2024 R4: Gukesh shows his grit against World no.2 Fabiano Caruana

by Shahid Ahmed - 08/04/2024

D Gukesh showed his true grit against Fabiano Caruana (USA) in the fourth round of FIDE Candidates 2024. Gukesh made a nice pawn sacrifice which did not give him anything. It was done to prevent any future attack on his kingside. His opponent, Caruana believed that he had an advantage. However, the teenager played precisely, found some nice defensive resources to hold the World no.2 to a draw. Vidit Gujrathi suffered his second consecutive loss of the event. His choice of Ruy Lopez Berlin did not work out as his opponent Ian Nepomniachtchi managed to outplay him. Nepomniachtchi has taken sole lead 3/4. Hikaru Nakamura (USA) and R Praggnanandhaa had an uneventful 24-move draw. Today is a rest day. Round 5 starts tomorrow Tuesday 9th April at 2:30 p.m. local time, 12 a.m. IST. Photos: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Nepomniachtchi gains sole lead

Vidit Gujrathi lost two games in-a-row. In one game, his opponent's choice surprised him, in the latter, his own choice of Berlin in the Ruy Lopez did not turn things out in his favor. Although, it is a long tournament, he needs to regroup quickly and turn things around. Thankfully today is a rest day.

Two calm level-headed strong world-class players faced each other and it was a great battle

Caruana - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5

The head-to-head score between Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2803) and D Gukesh (2743) in Classical rated game is 1.5-1.5. Both of them were leading the tournament heading into the fourth round. When two players make zero mistakes on the board, the result of the game generally ends in a draw. That is exactly what happened. The majority of the game was a queen endgame. Despite being down by a pawn, the teenager ensured that he does not let it become insurmountable.

Position after 17...Ne7

Gukesh sacrificed a pawn when he went 17...Ne7 18.Nxe5 Nxf5 19.exf5 the reason behind this interesting pawn sacrifice is probably to make sure White does not get to launch a devastating attack on the kingside.

Position after 24...Qd4

Caruana mentioned in the post-game interview that he definitely saw 24...Qd4 a family fork after 23...cxb4 24.cxb4 which was a nice defensive resource by Gukesh. 25.Qc1 Qxa7 26.Rxa4 Qb7 27.Qd2 Nd5 28.Bg3 f6! was a nice move. Caruana admitted overlooking it and after that he does not have any chances.

Fabiano Caruana: "Overall, it is kind of a neutral start" | Video: FIDE

Gukesh played fantastic against Caruana
98.3% vs 98.8% Accuracy! An Interesting Game! | Video: GMHikaru
Vaishali: "Our mother is our biggest support" - Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali chat with Anna Burtasova | Video: FIDE
Why did Hikaru Nakamura call the arbiter against Pragg? Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Hikaru Nakamura (USA) - R Praggnanandhaa: 0.5-0.5

Nepomniachtchi - Vidit: 1-0

Vidit Gujrathi (2727) eliminated Ian Nepomniachtchi (2758) at FIDE World Cup 2023 last year. Their last Classical encounter at 86th Tata Steel Masters earlier this year ended in a draw. Vidit opted for the Ruy Lopez Berlin. Nepomniachtchi managed to create a central passed pawn on the e-file which turned out to be the decisive factor.

Position after 37.Ke4

Black's rook at b3 is virtually trapped. It didn't get time to take the pawn at b2 and get back in the game. Ra5-b5-b3 was an extremely questionable idea for which he had to pay a big price. 37.Ke4 Be8?? 38.Rxd5+- and it's over.

Post-game Press Conference with Ian Nepomniachtchi | Video: FIDE
The Berlin Endgame Clash - Nepomniachtchi vs Vidit, Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Ruy Lopez Berlin did not work out for Vidit against Nepomniachtchi

Nijat Abasov (AZE) - Alireza Firouzja (FRA): 0.5-0.5

Photo Gallery

The legend - Vishy Anand arrives

Nijat Abasov (AZE) arrives with his second Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) and signs autographs for fans

R Praggnanandhaa surrounded by cameras

Chief Arbiter - IA IO Aris Marghetis (CAN)

Deputy Chief Arbiter - IA Andrew Howie (SCO)

Hikar Nakamura (USA) and Aryan Tari (NOR) with their fans

View from the top - Spectators at the Great Hall in Toronto, Canada | Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza
Round 4 recap by IM Sagar Shah | 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 4 live stream

FIDE Candidates 2024 Round 4 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal and GM Harshit Raja | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 4 games

Round 4 results

Round 4 results | Photo: FIDE

Details

Standings after Round 4

Details

Round 5 pairings

Bo.No.Rtg NameResultName RtgNo.
162747
GMPraggnanandhaa, RGMNepomniachtchi, Ian
27587
232760
GMFirouzja, AlirezaGMNakamura, Hikaru
27898
342743
GMGukesh, DGMAbasov, Nijat
26322
452727
GMVidit, Santosh GujrathiGMCaruana, Fabiano
28031

Details

Links

Official site

Tournament Regulations


Related news:
10 wonderful photos from the Candidates Chess Tournament 2024

@ 23/05/2024 by Sanket Nawle (en)
The Gukesh homecoming - A story about destiny

@ 26/04/2024 by Aditya Sur Roy (en)
10 reasons why Gukesh's triumph at FIDE Candidates 2024 is special

@ 23/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Zhongyi Tan convincingly clinches FIDE Women's Candidates 2024, Koneru Humpy second

@ 22/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
17-year-old Gukesh becomes the youngest ever to win FIDE Candidates 2024, creates history

@ 22/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R13: Vaishali topples Tingjie, wins four in-a-row

@ 21/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Gukesh scorches Firouzja, emerges sole leader, moves closer to winning Candidates 2024

@ 21/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R12: Vaishali scores a hat-trick of wins after losing four in-a-row

@ 19/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R12: Gukesh and Nakamura catch-up with Nepomniachtchi, make it a three-way lead

@ 19/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R11: Vaishali dashes Goryachkina's hopes

@ 18/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R11: Gukesh holds World no.2 Fabiano Caruana again, stays in the hunt

@ 18/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R10: Vaishali ends her losing streak by winning a rollercoaster game against Nurgyul

@ 16/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R10: Gukesh draws with Nepomniachtchi, both still in the lead

@ 16/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R9: Zhongyi Tan crushes Vaishali in 21 moves

@ 15/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R9: Vidit Gujrathi beats World no.3 Hikaru Nakamura for the second time in ten days

@ 15/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R8: Humpy victorious against Vaishali

@ 14/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R8: Gukesh hunts Vidit's king, rejoins the lead with Nepomniachtchi

@ 14/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R7: Zhongyi Tan maintains her sole lead

@ 12/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R7: Praggnanandhaa's French Defence holds well against the World no.2 Fabiano Caruana

@ 12/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R6: A brutal round

@ 11/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R6: Gukesh defies Nakamura, maintains his lead with Nepomniachtchi

@ 11/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R5: Four draws

@ 10/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R5: Who dares wins

@ 10/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R4: Vaishali splits the point with Goryachkina

@ 08/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R3: Vaishali bounces back against Nurgyul

@ 07/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R3: Praggnanandhaa's refreshing f5 takes Vidit by surprise

@ 07/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R2: Zhongyi Tan wins two in-a-row

@ 06/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R2: Praggnanandhaa implodes against Gukesh, Vidit blazes World no.3 Nakamura in 29 moves

@ 06/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Women's Candidates 2024 R1: Zhongyi Tan marches her king to victory

@ 05/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Candidates 2024 R1: Two exciting draws

@ 05/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 opens in Toronto

@ 04/04/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
FIDE Candidates 2024: All set for the chess tournament of the year in Toronto

@ 30/03/2024 by ChessBase India (en)
FIDE Candidates 2024: Pairings announced

@ 04/03/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Five Indians in the Candidates 2024

@ 02/01/2024 by Shahid Ahmed (en)
Who has the best chance to make it to the Candidates via FIDE Circuit 2023?

@ 31/10/2023 by Prakhar Sinha (en)
Is an Indian confirmed to play at the FIDE Candidates 2024?

@ 14/08/2023 by Sagar Shah (en)
FIDE reforms the qualifications paths to the Candidates Tournament

@ 17/12/2022 by ChessBase India (en)

Contact Us