Chess Candidates Tournament 2024: The Battle of Minds in Toronto is coming soon

In the world of chess, where intellect clashes with strategy, the Chess Candidates Tournament 2024 emerges as the battleground for the ultimate intellectual supremacy. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Toronto, Canada, this event marks a significant chapter in chess history, bringing together eight of the globe's most formidable minds, each with their own unique journey to this apex of chess competition.

The Chess Candidates Tournament, a beacon of competitive chess, is where the world's elite vie for the chance to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion. The 2024 edition, hosted in Toronto, Canada, continues this tradition with a lineup of eight distinguished players, each with a unique journey to this pinnacle of chess excellence.

The Grandmasters' Journey to Toronto

• Ian Nepomniachtchi: A maestro of calculation, known for his rapid and aggressive play, Nepomniachtchi's journey to the Candidates is a testament to his resilience and unparalleled strategic insight.

• R Praggnanandhaa: The young prodigy from India, with a precocious talent and a penchant for deep strategic innovation, Praggnanandhaa represents the new generation of chess brilliance.

• Fabiano Caruana: The American grandmaster, with a formidable opening repertoire and exceptional endgame skills, Caruana's path to the tournament is paved with years of dedication and outstanding achievements.

• Nijat Abasov: Emerging from the vibrant chess culture of Azerbaijan, Abasov's participation is marked by his solid play and the ability to outmaneuver opponents in complex positions.

• Vidit Gujrathi: India's chess luminary, Gujrathi's strategic depth and calm demeanor under pressure make him a formidable contender in the Toronto showdown.

• Hikaru Nakamura: Renowned for his lightning-fast calculations and intuitive play, the American grandmaster's presence adds an electrifying dimension to the tournament.

• Gukesh D: Another prodigious talent from India, Gukesh's meteoric rise in the chess world is fueled by his innovative approaches and a fearless attitude towards the game.

• Alireza Firouzja: The Iranian-born prodigy, now representing France, Firouzja brings a blend of aggressive tactics and strategic finesse, making him one of the most exciting players to watch.

This diverse group of candidates, representing the best of global chess, promises an intense competition filled with strategic masterpieces and memorable moments. As the chess world watches, these players will not only compete for the title but also for a place in chess history.

As with every Candidates tournament since 2013, it will be a double round-robin tournament.The winner of the tournament will earn the right to play the World Chess Championship 2024 against the current World Chess Champion Ding Liren.

Participation of Magnus Carlsen

Despite qualifying for the Candidates Tournament by winning the 2023 FIDE World Cup,former World Champion Magnus Carlsen officially decided not to compete in Toronto. He had previously stated his disinclination after reaching the semifinals of the World Cup, stating that "under the current format there is absolutely no chance" he will play the Candidates. In January 2024, after official confirmation of the candidates list, Magnus Carlsen formally confirmed his decision to decline FIDE's invitation to play in the Candidates Tournament by stating "I would say the main reason is that I don't enjoy it. It's as simple as that."As a result, Nijat Abasov, who finished fourth at the World Cup, qualified to the Candidates Tournament 2024 as Carlsen's replacement.

Regulations

The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 41. Players get 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.

Tiebreaks for the first place are addressed as follows:

• Players would play two rapid chess games at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If a three- to six-way tie had occurred, a single round-robin would be played. If seven or eight players had been tied, a single round-robin would be played with a time limit of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move.
• If any players had still been tied for first after the rapid chess games, they would play twoblitz chessgames at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. In the case of more than two players being tied, a single round-robin would be played.
• If any players were still tied for first after these blitz chess games, the remaining players would play a knock-out blitz tournament at the same time control. In each mini-match of the proposed knock-out tournament, the first player to win a game would win the mini-match.

Ties for places other than first will be broken by, in order: Sonneborn–Berger score; total number of wins; head-to-head score among tied players; drawing of lots.

The prize money is €48,000 for first place, €36,000 for second place, and €24,000 for third place (with players on the same number of points sharing prize money, irrespective of tie-breaks), plus €3,500 per half-point for every player, for a total prize pool of €500,000.

PK