Candidates 2024 R6: Gukesh defies Nakamura, maintains his lead with Nepomniachtchi

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/04/2024

D Gukesh drew with Hikaru Nakamura (USA) in the sixth round of FIDE Candidates 2024. He mentioned that it was a calm game and appreciated his opponent's 14...Nc8 strong idea. After all pieces were traded he felt that if he doesn't do much it should end in a draw. That is what happened. Ian Nepomniachtchi also drew his game against Fabiano Caruana (USA). Thus, Gukesh is still in the lead with Nepomniachtchi 4/6. R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi scored their second win of the event against Nijat Abasov (AZE) and Alireza Firouzja (FRA). Abasov blundered in an already difficult endgame. Firouzja made a mistake early in the game and could not recover. Round 7 starts today at 2:30 p.m. local time, 12 a.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Michal Walusza

Praggnanandhaa and Vidit score their second wins

The draw moved Gukesh back into the World Top 10 in the live ratings. He had a published ranking of World no.8 in September 2023 FIDE Rating list. However, what's different this time is, two Indians in the World Top 10 and none of them are Vishy Anand, something that has never happened before. Of course, there are still 20 days left in this month, so a lot can happen.

D Gukesh had a calm draw against Hikaru Nakamura (USA)

17-year-old Gukesh takes on World no.3 Hikaru Nakamura - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Gukesh: "My tournament is pretty good; I have played some good games." | Video: FIDE

Arjun Erigaisi and D Gukesh are two Indians in World Top 10 in live ratings | Source: 2700chess.com

Vidit - Firouzja: 1-0

Vidit Gujrathi (2727) defeated Alireza Firouzja (FRA, 2760) earlier this year at 86th Tata Steel Masters. Knowing what happened in the previous round against Nakamura, Vidit obviously felt good about his chances. Firouzja went for an ambitious 13...Qxf2? which certainly cannot work out in favor of Black.

Position after 13...Qxf2

As Nakamura said on the previous day while discussing a variation, Firouzja once again had 'delusions of grandeur' when he played 13...Qxf2. It all went downhill for Black from there 14.e5 Nd7 15.exd6 Qb6 16.Be3 Qd8 17.Rhf1 and White went on to win the game comfortably.

Provoking Vidit in Toronto is dangerous - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Interview with Vidit Gujrathi | Video: ChessBase India

Vidit Gujrathi vlog on beating Hikaru Nakamura | Video: ChessBase India

Post-game Press Conference with Vidit Gujrathi | Video: FIDE

Vidit Gujrathi scored his second win of the event

Praggnanandhaa - Abasov

Position after 40...Kg7??

In an already difficult endgame, Nijat Abasov (AZE, 2632) worsened things further 40...Kg7?? Find out the winning continuation for White which R Praggnanandhaa played in the game.

The first ever encounter between Praggnanandhaa and Nijat Abasov - Commentary by IM Sagar Shah | Video: ChessBase India

Into the mind of Praggnanandhaa after his win against Nijat Abasov | Video: ChessBase India

Post-game Press Conference with Praggnanandhaa and Nijat Abasov | Video: FIDE

R Praggnanandhaa also registered his second win of the event

Ian Nepomniachtchi - Fabiano Caruana (USA): 0.5-0.5

Photo Gallery

Arbiters' team (L to R): Deputy Chief Arbiter - IA Andrew Howie (SCO), Fair play - WGM Salomeja Zaksaite (LTU), Deputy Chief Arbiter - WIM IA FI Carolina Munoz Soli (CRC) and Chief Arbiter - IA IO Aris Marghetis (CAN)

Fan zone

Hikaru Nakamura, R Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi with their fans

Our CEO and Cofounder IM Sagar Shah interviewing Hikaru Nakamura (USA)

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 6 live stream

FIDE Candidates 2024 Round 6 Live Commentary by Amruta Mokal, IM Sagar Shah and GM Srinath Narayanan | Video: ChessBase India

Replay Round 6 games

Round 6 results

Round 6 results | Photo: FIDE

Details

Standings after Round 6

Standings after Round 6 | Photo: FIDE

Details

Round 7 pairings

Bo.	No.	Rtg		Name		Name	Rtg	No.
1	8	2789	GM	Nakamura, Hikaru	GM	Nepomniachtchi, Ian	2758	7
2	1	2803	GM	Caruana, Fabiano	GM	Praggnanandhaa, R	2747	6
3	2	2632	GM	Abasov, Nijat	GM	Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi	2727	5
4	3	2760	GM	Firouzja, Alireza	GM	Gukesh, D	2743	4