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          FIDE Candidates 2024: Gukesh shares points with Nepo, Pragg and Vidit draw in Round 10

          File photo of R Praggnanandhaa and R Vaishali ESPN
          • ESPN staffApr 16, 2024, 02:13 AM

          The battle between the leaders of the Open Category ended in a stalemate as India's D Gukesh and Ian Nepomniachtchi split the points in the 10th round of the 2024 FIDE Candidates tournament on Tuesday. The result leaves them both tied at the top spot with six points each and they are closely trailed by a pack of three that includes R Praggnanandhaa.

          The teenager took on his compatriot Vidit Gujrathi and neither was able to find an opening as they shook hands after 39 moves. The two American - Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana - claimed wins to climb up the ladder and make it a three-way fight for the third spot.

          Elsewhere in the women's section, India's R Vaishali bounced back from four consecutive losses to beat Bulgaria's Nurgyul Salimova, while Koneru Humpy drew with the joint-leader Zhongyi Tan to remain in the fifth spot. Lei Tingjie joined Zhongyi in the lead as she outiwtted Aleksandra Goryachkina for a win, while Kateryna Lagno drew with Anna Muzychuk.

          Results in round 10 (of 14):

          FIDE Candidates Tournament (Open):

          • R Praggnanandhaa (IND) drew Vidit Gujrathi (IND)

          • Hikaru Nakamura (USA) beat Nijat Abasov (UZB)

          • Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS) drew D Gukesh (IND)

          • Fabiano Caruana (USA) beat Alireza Firouzja

          FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament:

          • Zhongyi Tan (CHN) drew Koneru Humpy (IND)

          • Kateryna Lagno (RUS) drew Anna Muzychuk

          • Lei Tingjie (CHN) beat Aleksandra Goryachkina (RUS)

          • Vaishali R (IND) beat Nurgyul Salimova (BUL)

          Gukesh, Nepomniachtchi split points

          We could have had an outright leader in the Open Category today if there was a decisive result between Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi and that could have set the pace for the remaining four rounds. However, both the joint-leaders adopted a safe approach in the Ruy Lopez and shared the spoils. Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi are tied on six points each and the Indian, who is the youngest at the 2024 FIDE Candidates, has been impressive all throughout.

          "I was Black, and he played a solid game, so it was a fair result. I am in good shape and hopefully it can continue in the last [few] games," he said.

          His countrymen Praggnanandhaa and Vidit also played out a safe game to hold position. Praggnanandhaa is in a fight for the third spot with 5.5 points, while is sixth with 5 points to his name.

          Vaishali ends losing streak

          Vaishali snapped her winless run with a strong win over Salimova. It was an in this 88-move clash that went on for six hours and ended with Vaishali taking advantage of Salimova's errors. Tingjie beat Goryachkina with black pieces and has now won four out of her last five games.

          She tops the leaderboard alongside her compatriot Zhongyi, who played out a draw with Humpy. When asked what happened a week ago that led to Tingjie's winning run, she said: "I thought I did not have a chance anymore, and so there was no pressure."

          Note - There are five Indians playing the Candidates for the first time, which is a winner-takes-it-all tournament between the top 8 players in the world to decide who will compete in the World Championship match to challenge the reigning world champion.

          Standings after Round 10 (of 14):

          FIDE Candidates Tournament (Open):

          • 1-2: Nepomniachtchi (6), Gukesh (6)

          • 3-5: Caruana (5.5), Nakamura (5.5), Praggnanandhaa (5.5)

          • 6: Vidit (5)

          • 7: Firouzja (3.5)

          • 8: Abasov (3)

          FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament:

          • 1-2: Tingjie (6.5), Zhongyi (6.5)

          • 3-4: Goryachkina (5.5), Lagno (5.5)

          • 5: Humpy (4.5)

          • 6-7: Muzychuk (4), Salimova (4),

          • 8: Vaishali (3.5)

          Schedule

          OPEN CATEGORY

          WOMEN'S CATEGORY