Ian Nepomniachtchi turns into challenger for the title of World Champion

Following a attract spherical 13 recreation in opposition to Hungarian Grandmaster Richard Rapport, Nepomniachtchi is on 9/13, some extent and a half forward of the remainder of the sector, in response to a FIDE launch. This is his second consecutive victory within the eight-player Candidates.

In the post-game interview, when requested how he’s feeling now, Nepomniachni instructed FIDE: ‘The traditional answer is – I don’t know… In this event I used to be attempting extra to play chess than enjoying for a win. That is essential… Another essential issue is that I by no means had a six-hour recreation right here. I used to be fortunate sufficient to not play for too lengthy’, stated Nepomniachtchi.

The 31-year-old GM has taken an early lead within the event and is the one participant to not lose a single recreation. American Hikaru Nakamura is at present in clear second place with 7.5 factors, having gained as we speak in opposition to Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda. In the ultimate – 14th spherical – he shall be up in opposition to China’s Ding Liren who’s on seven factors, in a direct duel for second place.

The race for second place has turn out to be ever extra essential since five-times world champion Magnus Carlsen has made a number of strategies he won’t be prepared to defend his title. If Carlsen decides to not play within the match which is because of happen subsequent 12 months, he shall be changed by the runner-up within the Candidates.

In Round 13, Ian Nepomniachtchi secured his victory in #FIDECandidates. Nakamura gained and is now clear second.

Standings earlier than the final spherical:
🥇 Nepomniachtchi – 9
2. Nakamura – 7½
3. Ding – 7
4-5. Radjabov, Caruana – 6½
6. Rapport – 5½
7-8. Duda, Firouzja – 5 pic.twitter.com/9ib04Ba2nx

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022

In spherical 13, Ian Nepomniachtchi was White in opposition to Richard Rapport who opted for a pointy line within the Richter-Rauzer variation of the Sicilian. However, Nepomniachtchi was trying to calm the sport and he pressured exchanges, making issues less complicated on the board. Rapport at one level began advancing his king in the direction of the center, however he steered away from harmful exhibitions similar to these in spherical seven in opposition to Nepo, when he refused a draw provide and ended up shedding. In an excellent place, a draw was agreed on transfer 34 following threefold repetition.

This is all Nepomniachtchi wanted to say first place, with yet another spherical to go.

In gentle of the talk about whether or not the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen will defend his title or not, an much more important query mark grows on who the winner of the Candidates shall be going through. When requested who he needs to play on the planet championship match, Nepomniachtchi stated: ‘Literally, I don’t care. But, in fact, it could be fairly difficult to play Magnus once more.’

Ian Nepomniachtchi: “Extremely happy and extremely thankful to everybody who helped me.” pic.twitter.com/zAFmhO9sgE

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022

Ian Nepomniachtchi has been the chief from the very begin of the event and is the one participant within the discipline to not endure a defeat in 13 rounds performed. He shall be hoping to keep up this within the last recreation, in spherical 14, and keep away from the repeat of 2020/21 Candidates in Yekaterinburg the place he additionally gained with a spherical to spare however then misplaced the final recreation.

While the primary story of the day is Nepomniachtchi confirming his victory within the Candidates, probably the most gripping query is – who shall be second? This query has dominated the latter a part of the occasion, ever because the prospects of Nepomniachchi’s victory turned nearly sure.

The primary candidates are Hikaru Nakamura and Ding Liren who entered as we speak’s spherical with 6.5 factors.

The most fun recreation of the day was between Hikaru Nakamura and Jan-Krzysztof Duda. The younger participant from Poland opted for a Najdorf Sicilian – getting into a pointy line the place either side wanted to calculate lots. In a recreation filled with ups and downs for either side, Nakamura appeared to have overstretched himself sacrificing a pawn and gave Black a number of good possibilities within the early middlegame. However, as within the earlier video games, Duda failed in energy and vitality to transform the benefit pushed within the centre and progressively gave again the initiative to White. In a tactical place, Nakamura managed to outplay his opponent within the second a part of the sport and after Black’s critical mistake on transfer 37, he ended up utterly profitable. With 7.5/13, Nakamura is alone in second place.

Ding was black in opposition to Alireza Firouzja who opted for a calmer line – with the Four Knight’s Scotch. For the primary ten strikes, the 2 adopted the identical line as within the spherical eight recreation between Nepomniachtci and Ding, which led to a draw. It appeared that the 2 have been heading for a speedy draw following fast play and exchanges. However, within the endgame, Ding determined to surrender a pawn on the h-file and boost the place. Firouzja countered Black’s advances nicely after which discovered a bishop sacrifice which activated his rook, enabling it to offer perpetual checks. Ding was prepared to take a danger as we speak and was pushing, nevertheless it didn’t go and he didn’t over power it. With 7/13, Ding stands stable possibilities to take second place. As for Firouzja, something however a defeat is sweet information at this stage.

Chess followers honoured Ian Nepomniachtchi with an ovation. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/HxTByVlDTH

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) July 3, 2022

In the final spherical, Hikaru Nakamura shall be going through Ding Lireng in a direct duel for second place.

In as we speak’s recreation Fabiano Caruana was enjoying with black items in opposition to the uneasy Teimour Radjabov. In the Catalan, Caruana stunned his opponent within the opening, selecting a rarer line and sacrificing a pawn. Black did get some initiative, however Radjabov shortly simplified and transitioned to an excellent endgame the place the 2 shortly agreed on a draw. Both Caruana and Radjabov are on 6.5/13 and don’t have possibilities for second place.

ROUND 13 REPORT:

Ian Nepomniachtchi

½ – ½

Richard Rapport

Hikaru Nakamura

1 – 0

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Alireza Firouzja

½ – ½

Ding Liren

Teimour Radjabov

½ – ½

Fabiano Caruana

STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13:

1

Nepomniachtchi, Ian

9/13
2766
2

Nakamura, Hikaru

7½/13
2760
3

Ding, Liren

7/13
2806
4

Radjabov, Teimour

6½/13
2753
5

Caruana, Fabiano

6½/13
2783
6

Rapport, Richard

5½/13
2764
7

Duda, Jan-Krzysztof

5/13
2750
8

Firouzja, Alireza

5/13
2793

The last, fourteenth spherical of the Candidates begins on Monday the 4th of July at 3 PM CEST on the Palacio de Santona in Madrid.

The pairings of spherical fourteen are as follows:

Richard Rapport vs Teimour Radjabov
Fabiano Caruana vs Alireza Firouzja
Ding Liren vs Hikaru Nakamura
Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Ian Nepomniachtchi