D Gukesh won the 2024 FIDE Candidates after a draw against Hikaru Nakamura (USA), with Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia) and Fabiano Caruana (USA) also drawing their match.. The 17-year-old became the youngest-ever winner of the FIDE Candidates, and also will be the youngest in chess history to challenge for the FIDE World Championship later this year, against reigning world champion Ding Liren of China.
Gukesh also becomes the first Indian since Viswanathan Anand in 2014 to win the Candidates.
He entered the tournament as the third-youngest ever to appear in it (Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen were younger in their debuts), and was relatively unfancied to emerge as a challenger, let alone the winner. In comparison, Garry Kasparov won the Candidates at the age of 21, while Carlsen was 22.
Gukesh finished with five wins, eight draws and the solitary loss to garner a winning tally of 9 points.
Gukesh draws Nakamura, finishes on top after Nepo and Caruana draw
Playing with black pieces, Gukesh needed a draw to guarantee at least a tie-breaker. Yet, the 17-year-old used a surprise opening to throw off Nakamura, playing 5...Be7 that left his opponent scrambling for a bit.
Hikaru Nakamura's reaction when Gukesh played 5...Be7 ��#FIDECandidates pic.twitter.com/F3Z0PgJHHM
- International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 21, 2024
Nakamura, who needed nothing less than a win, fought his way back with a couple of aggressive moves, although Gukesh did have the edge going into the mid-game. The Indian defended all of Nakamura's attempts to create an opening, remaining calm even with an exchange of queens. The endgame played out predictably, Gukesh in firm control as he shook hands with Nakamura with just the kings left on the board - signifying a draw.
With the game against Caruana and Nepomniachtchi still going on, Gukesh was still on tenterhooks in his post-match press conference. Caruana and Nepomniachtchi needed the win to stand any chance and thus resulted in panicked moves in the end-game, the prediction engine swinging wildly between a win for Caruana and a draw. The pair made a couple of blunders before Nepomniachtchi eventually forced a draw, thus sealing Gukesh's victory in the tournament.
Congratulations to @DGukesh for becoming the youngest challenger. The @WacaChess family is so proud of what you have done . I'm personally very proud of how you played and handled tough situations. Enjoy the moment
- Viswanathan Anand (@vishy64theking) April 22, 2024
Humpy finishes second, Vaishali fourth
In the Women's section, Tan Zhongyi of China was the winner (9 points) after a draw against Anna Muzychuk, and will face compatriot Ju Wenjun in the World Championship.
R Vaishali who was bottom of the standings four rounds ago, eventually finished fourth with her fifth consecutive win of the tournament, defeating fellow challenger Kateryna Lagno of Russia in a complicated game that swung both ways. Koneru Humpy also finished with a victory, as Lei Tingjie of China finished her tournament with losses to both Indians and fell behind eventual winner Tan Zhongyi.
Humpy, Vaishali and Lei were all tied on 7.5 points at the end of the tournament, with Humpy claiming second place on superior tie-break.
Here's how round 14 panned out:
Results in round 14 (of 14):
FIDE Candidates Tournament (Open):
Hikaru Nakamura (USA) drew Gukesh D (IND)
Fabiano Caruana (USA) drew Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS)
Alireza Firouzja (FRA) drew Vidit Gujrathi (IND)
R Praggnanandhaa (IND) beat Nijat Abasov (AZE)
FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament:
Kateryna Lagno (RUS) lost to Vaishali R (IND)
Lei Tingjie (CHN) lost to Koneru Humpy (IND)
Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS) drew Nurgyul Salimova (BUL)
Tan Zhongyi (CHN) drew Anna Muzychuk (UKR)
Final Standings:
FIDE Candidates Tournament (Open):
Gukesh (9)
Nakamura (8.5)
Nepomniachtchi (8.5)
Caruana (8.5)
Praggnanandhaa (7)
Vidit (6)
Firouzja (5)
Abasov (3.5)
FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament:
Tan (9)
Humpy (7.5)
Lei (7.5)
Vaishali (7.5)
Goryachkina (7)
Lagno (6.5)
Salimova (5.5)
Muzychuk,(5.5)