Candidates Chess 2024: Gukesh rose to to the top of the Candidates 2024 standings in the open section once more after defeating compatriot Vidit Gujrathi in a Round 8 encounter. The 17-year-old prodigy from Chennai is joined at the top of the table by Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was held to a draw by Nijat Abasov. There are six more rounds left at the Candidates. The winner of the open event gets to take on Ding Liren in the World Chess Championship next year. The winner of the women's event gets to face off against China's Ju Wenjun in the Women's World Chess Championship. On an incredible day in Toronto, Gukesh's victory was sealed almost at the same time that World No 2 Fabiano Caruana resigned against American compatriot World No 3 Hikaru Nakamura. Gukesh and Caruana were joint second in the standings along with Praggnanandhaa after seven rounds in the Candidates 2024 tournament, which marked the halfway point of the double round robin tournament. Praggnanandhaa also agreed to a draw against French grandmaster Alireza Firouzja, who had inflicted that heartbreaking defeat on Gukesh in Round 7. Meanwhile, there was drama in the women's event as well as leader Tan Zhongyi was handed a defeat by compatriot Lei Tingjie. In the battle of the two Indians, Humpy squandered her early advantage against Vaishali. But just when it looked like Vaishali would escape, she made a blunder which eventually led to her losing. Results and current situation from Round 8 games at Candidates Open section Ian Nepomniachtchi drew Nijat Abasov Hikaru Nakamura defeated Fabiano Caruana Praggnanandhaa R drew with Alireza Firouzja Vidit Santosh Gujrathi lost to Gukesh Women’s category Tan Zhongyi lost to Lei Tingjie Kateryna Lagno drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina Nurgyul Salimova drew with Anna Muzychuk Humpy Koneru defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu Standings after Round 8 at Candidates Open standings after Round 8 RANK PLAYER COUNTRY POINTS 1-2 Ian Nepomniachtchi Russia (Under FIDE flag) 5 1-2 Gukesh India 5 3-4 Hikaru Nakamura USA 4.5 3-4 Praggnanandhaa India 4.5 5 Fabiano Caruana USA 4 6 Vidit Santosh Gujrathi India 3.5 7 Alireza Firouzja France 3 8 Nijat Abasov Azerbaijan 2.5 (Standings updated after all Round 8 games ended on Sunday IST) Women's standings after Round 8 RANK PLAYER COUNTRY POINTS 1-3 Aleksandra Goryachkina Russia (Under FIDE flag) 5 1-3 Lei Tingjie China 5 1-3 Tan Zhongyi China 5 4 Kateryna Lagno Russia (Under FIDE flag) 4.5 5-6 Nurgyul Salimova Bulgaria 3.5 5-6 Humpy Koneru India 3.5 7 Anna Muzychuk Ukraine 3 6-8 Vaishali R India 2.5 (Standings updated after all Round 8 games ended on Sunday IST) Schedule for Indians from Round 9 to Round 14 at Candidates ROUND 9 Open Vidit Santosh Gujrathi - Hikaru Nakamura Gukesh D - Praggnanandhaa R ROUND 9 Women’s Humpy Koneru - Kateryna Lagno Vaishali Rameshbabu - Tan Zhongyi ROUND 10 Open Ian Nepomniachtchi - Gukesh D Praggnanandhaa R - Vidit Santosh Gujrathi ROUND 10 Women’s Nurgyul Salimova - Vaishali Rameshbabu Tan Zhongyi - Humpy Koneru ROUND 11 Open Praggnanandhaa R - Hikaru Nakamura Vidit Santosh Gujrathi - Ian Nepomniachtchi Gukesh D - Fabiano Caruana ROUND 11 Women’s Humpy Koneru - Nurgyul Salimova Vaishali Rameshbabu - Aleksandra Goryachkina ROUND 12 Open Nijat Abasov - Gukesh D Fabiano Caruana - Vidit Santosh Gujrathi Ian Nepomniachtchi - Praggnanandhaa R ROUND 12 Women’s Anna Muzychuk - Vaishali Rameshbabu Aleksandra Goryachkina - Humpy Koneru ROUND 13 Open Praggnanandhaa R - Fabiano Caruana Vidit Santosh Gujrathi - Nijat Abasov Gukesh D - Alireza Firouzja ROUND 13 Women’s Humpy Koneru - Anna Muzychuk Vaishali Rameshbabu - Lei Tingjie ROUND 14 Open Hikaru Nakamura - Gukesh D Alireza Firouzja - Vidit Santosh Gujrathi Nijat Abasov - Praggnanandhaa R ROUND 14 Women’s Kateryna Lagno - Vaishali Rameshbabu Lei Tingjie - Humpy Koneru
