FIDE Chess Candidates 2024: First impressions of the Candidates contenders ahead of the first round.
Candidates Chess Tournament 2024: 16 players, two spots that matter. That’s what the next three weeks will be about as the Candidates chess tournament begins in Toronto. There are five Indians in the field — three in the Open section and two in the women’s event. Each will play 14 games in a winner-takes-all race to the finish line.
By the time you’re reading this, all the games of the first round of the 2024 Candidates would have begun. Here are bits and bobs from the opening ceremony and media day:
Viswanathan Anand’s influence
Many of Viswanathan Anand’s former trainers and seconds now work with some of the current crop of elite stars. Grzegorz Gajewski, who is Gukesh’s trainer, has worked with Anand. As has Surya Shekhar Ganguly, who is helping Vidit Gujrathi for the Toronto event. Then there’s Sandipan Chanda, who was Anand’s second, and is currently the trainer of Vaishali. (Not to mention that Anand’s one-time aide Peter Heine Nielsen has been helping Magnus Carlsen for many years now). In fact, both Gukesh and Vaishali started working with their trainers because of Anand nudging them in that direction.
Pragg reveals his cards
The choice of seconds and trainers is a closely guarded secret in most cases. But many players have brought their seconds and trainers with them to Toronto. The most notable was Pragg’s revelation that Peter Svidler, who played in the Candidates in 2013, 2014 and 2016, will be helping him.
Koneru Humpy, the solo rider
While most of the players have travelled to Toronto with seconds, trainers or family members in tow, Koneru Humpy has reportedly travelled to Toronto by herself as she usually does since her daughter was born a few years back. The 37-year-old has also chosen to keep her trainer and seconds hidden from the public eye.
Nakamura, the chess streamer
Ahead of the Candidates, Hikaru Nakamura, who is ranked World No.3 and has been tipped by Magnus Carlsen as the joint favourite to win the Open Candidates tournament, was asked in an interview with FIDE, how he balanced his chess career with his streaming career. “I’m a streamer first, creating content is what I do to earn a living. Playing chess is somewhat secondary,” he said straight faced.
He added: “I don’t feel any pressure with this tournament. If I win, nice and fine. Fact of the matter is if I become world champion, the reach or influence of that is so minor compared to what I have done via streaming or content creation. I just found another path, that for better or worse is far more lucrative and makes it a lot easier to enjoy chess.”
Does previous experience of Candidates help?
Fabiano Caruana is back to compete in his fifth consecutive Candidates, after playing in the 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022 editions. Of these, he won the 2018 event. “At the Candidates, everyone has their chances. No one can say they’re clear favourites. Victory is much less within your control somehow, you can’t control what other players do. When I played in 2016, I almost made it to the World Championship despite me not knowing how to prepare. Then in 2018, I won it. Last time, having played with a lot of experience, I didn’t handle it well. Not sure how much experience matters,” the World No 2 said.
Source:indianexpress.com