Round 10 Recap: Impactful Results Shake Up Leaderboards

In a day filled with intense battles and surprising twists, the FIDE Candidates Tournament saw only two decisive games, but the impact on the leaderboards was substantial. GM Hikaru Nakamura suffered a loss to GM Vidit Gujrathi after making risky decisions and ultimately blundering a pawn. This marks Vidit’s second victory over Nakamura in the tournament, leading to speculation that he may be Nakamura’s kryptonite.

Meanwhile, GM Alireza Firouzja missed an opportunity to spoil GM Ian Nepomniachtchi’s game, settling for a draw after Nepo successfully defended a dangerous position. The drama continued off the board as Firouzja took to social media to express his frustration with the Chief Arbiter’s comments about his footwear during the game.

In the women’s section, GM Tan Zhongyi regained the sole lead in the tournament after receiving a gift from GM-Elect Vaishali Rameshbabu. Other games in the women’s section ended in long and fighting draws, with GM Aleksandra Goryachkina and GM Lei Tingjie tied for second place, just half a point behind Tan.

As the tournament moves into round 10, all eyes are on the matchups that could shape the final four rounds. With Tan facing GM Humpy Koneru, Goryachkina taking on Lei, and other key battles in store, the competition is heating up. Fans can follow the action live on Chess.com and Lichess.org, and stay updated with the latest news and analysis on social media using the tag #FIDECandidates.