Candidates Chess 2024 Round 9 Highlights: Vidit Gujrathi Upsets Hikaru Nakamura, Gukesh Maintains Lead

India’s Vidit Gujrathi continues to impress at the Candidates Chess 2024 tournament, pulling off another upset in Round 9 by defeating World No 3 Hikaru Nakamura. This victory marks Vidit’s second win over Nakamura in the tournament, showcasing his strong form and determination.

In the open section, Vidit’s game was the only one to produce a decisive result in Round 9, highlighting his aggressive and strategic playing style. Meanwhile, young talents D Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa played out a draw, with Gukesh maintaining his lead at the top of the standings, just half a point ahead of Pragg.

In the women’s section, R Vaishali suffered a resounding defeat at the hands of Tan Zhongyi, forcing her to resign after just 21 moves. Humpy Koneru managed to hold Kateryna Lagno to a draw in their game.

Notable performances in Round 9 also included Ian Nepomniachtchi salvaging a draw from a losing position against Alireza Firouzja, and Fabiano Caruana being held by Nijat Abasov. However, controversy arose when Firouzja claimed he was stopped from walking during the game by the arbiter, who also instructed him to wear different shoes for Round 10.

The action-packed Round 9 of the Candidates Chess tournament kept fans on the edge of their seats, with unexpected results and intense battles on the chessboard. Stay tuned for more updates and live coverage as the tournament progresses.