Candidates 2024 R11: Gukesh holds World no.2 Fabiano Caruana again, stays in the hunt
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.
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.
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.
Despite the knight having three seemingly plausible squares where it can go, it cannot prevent the fall of it.
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.
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.
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
Replay Round 11 games
Round 11 results
Standings after Round 11
| Rk. | SNo | Name | FED | Rtg | Pts. | TB1 | TB2 | TB3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | FID | 2758 | 7 | 35,25 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2 | 4 | GM | Gukesh, D | IND | 2743 | 6,5 | 35,00 | 3 | 0 | |
| 3 | 8 | GM | Nakamura, Hikaru | USA | 2789 | 6,5 | 33,00 | 4 | 0 | |
| 4 | 1 | GM | Caruana, Fabiano | USA | 2803 | 6 | 29,75 | 2 | 0 | |
| 5 | 6 | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | IND | 2747 | 5,5 | 28,00 | 2 | 0 | |
| 6 | 5 | GM | Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi | IND | 2727 | 5 | 28,00 | 3 | 0 | |
| 7 | 3 | GM | Firouzja, Alireza | FRA | 2760 | 4,5 | 23,00 | 2 | 0 | |
| 8 | 2 | GM | Abasov, Nijat | AZE | 2632 | 3 | 18,00 | 0 | 0 |
Round 12 pairings
| Bo. | No. | Rtg | Name | Result | Name | Rtg | No. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 2758 | GM | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | GM | Praggnanandhaa, R | 2747 | 6 | ||||
| 2 | 8 | 2789 | GM | Nakamura, Hikaru | GM | Firouzja, Alireza | 2760 | 3 | ||||
| 3 | 2 | 2632 | GM | Abasov, Nijat | GM | Gukesh, D | 2743 | 4 | ||||
| 4 | 1 | 2803 | GM | Caruana, Fabiano | GM | Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi | 2727 | 5 |
