Candidates chess results, standings after Round 13: Gukesh wins to take sole lead; Nepomniachtchi draws with Hikaru Nakamura

Three veterans — two-time Candidates winner Ian Nepomniachtchi, World No 2 Fabiano Caruana and World No 3 Hikaru Nakamura — are hot on the Indian teenager’s heels, just half a point behind. 

What will spice up the final day of action even more is the fact that Gukesh will take on Nakamura in the final round with black pieces while Nepomniachtchi faces Caruana.

Should he emerge victorious from the Candidates tournament, Gukesh will take on China’s Ding Liren for the World Champion’s crown.

Meanwhile, in the women’s section the most notable result from an Indian perspective was 22-year-old Vaishali racking up her fourth victory in a row in Round 13 to bounce back from losing four in a row at one stage.

Results from Round 13 games at Candidates

Open section

Ian Nepomniachtchi drew with Hikaru Nakamura

Praggnanandhaa R lost to Fabiano Caruana

Vidit Santosh Gujrathi drew with Nijat Abasov

Gukesh D defeated Alireza Firouzja

Women’s section

Nurgyul Salimova drew with Kateryna Lagno

Tan Zhongyi drew with Aleksandra Goryachkina

Humpy Koneru drew with Anna Muzychuk

Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated Lei Tingjie

Standings after Round 13 at Candidates

Open standings after Round 13 

(Standings updated after Round 13 games ended on Sunday IST)

Scenarios for Round 14 at the Candidates

If Gukesh beats Nakamura in the last round to be played on Sunday, then – irrespective of the outcome of the Nepomniachtchi-Caruana match – he goes on to challenge China’s Ding Liren for the World Chess Championship in the coming cycle.

If Gukesh draws, he will learn his fate from the outcome of the Nepomniachtchi vs Caruana match. If that one too is a draw, then the Indian sails through; if there is a result, the winner plays Gukesh in a 2-match Stage II with tighter time controls.

If Gukesh loses, then he is out of contention even if the matter goes into tiebreaks, since Nakamura will have half a point more than him.

Women’s standings after Round 13 

(Standings updated after Round 13 games ended on Sunday IST)

Schedule for Indians for Round 14 at Candidates

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

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