Five Indians in the Candidates 2024
FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates 2024 will have the highest number of participants. R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Vaishali R had already earned their place. D Gukesh and Koneru Humpy have also earned their spot via FIDE Circuit and Rating spot. Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, Nijat Abasov, Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza Firouzja are the remaining participants in the Open event. Tingjie Lei, Kateryna Lagno, Aleksandra Goryachkina, Nurgyul Salimova, Anna Muzychuk and Zhongyi Tan comprise the remaining participants in the Women's event. Who will emerge victorious this April 2024 in Toronto, Canada to become the next Challenger for the World Championship? Photo: Sagar Shah
Praggnanandhaa, Vidit, Gukesh, Vaishali and Humpy make it the highest-ever Indian participants
R Praggnanadhaa, Vidit Gujrathi and Vaishali R had already qualified to the FIDE Candidates and Women's Candidates 2024 via FIDE World Cup 2023, FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 and FIDE Women's Grand Swiss 2023. D Gukesh earned his spot via FIDE Circuit and Koneru Humpy earned her place via rating as Yifan Hou did not play enough rated games in 2023.
Open: Firouzja and Gukesh secure the last two spots
Alireza Firouzja got the rating spot by winning 15th Rouen Open 2023. His last minute change of plans to skip World Rapid and Blitz 2023, and play the Classical rating tournament, paid off. The tournament win ensured Firouzja preserve his sixth position in the rating list and qualify for the Candidates 2024.
D Gukesh made the most out of his opportunity by winning Chennai Grand Masters 2023. Arjun Erigaisi and Anish Giri could have surpassed him at World Rapid and Blitz 2023. However, they were unable to do so.
Candidates participants
Ian Nepomniachtchi - Runner-up of the World Championship Match against Ding Liren
R Praggnanandhaa - Runner-up at FIDE World Cup 2023
Fabiano Caruana - Second Runner-up at FIDE World Cup 2023
Nijat Abasov* - Third Runner-up at FIDE World Cup 2023
Vidit Gujrathi - Winner of FIDE Grand Swiss 2023
Hikaru Nakamura - Runner-up at FIDE Grand Swiss 2023
D Gukesh - FIDE Circuit 2023 runner-up (Circuit topper Caruana already qualified by other path)
Alireza Firouzja - Player who did not qualify by other path with the highest rating in January 2024
Magnus Carlsen has mentioned after the World Cup that he has no desire to play in the Candidates. Although it is yet to be made official, it is highly unlikely that he will change his mind, as he also mentioned that he meant what he said.
Women: Koneru Humpy gets the rating spot
Koneru Humpy secured her place in the FIDE Women's Candidates 2024 as Yifan Hou did not play enough rated games in 2023
Candidates participants
GM Tingjie Lei - Runner-up of the World Championship Match against Wenjun Ju
GM Kateryna Lagno - Winner of the Women's Grand Prix 2022-23
GM Aleksandra Goryachkina - Runner-up of the Women's Grand Prix 2022-23
IM Nurgyul Salimova - Runner-up in the FIDE Women's World Cup 2023
GM Anna Muzychuk - Second Runner-up at the FIDE Women's World Cup 2023
GM Vaishali R - Winner of the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss 2023
GM Zhongyi Tan - Second Runner-up at the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss 2023
IM Nurgyul Salimova is the sole IM among the Candidates. She already has two GM-norms, so she can become a GM before the event starts on 3rd April 2024.
