Candidates 2024: It’s Gukesh vs Vidit Gujrathi and Vaishali vs Koneru Humpy in opening encounters

Even as many players, including four Indian chess players, await visas from Canada, the pairings for the prestigious Candidates Chess tournament 2024 was announced by FIDE, the global governing body of the sport. The first round in the open Candidates tournament will see two of the three Indians in the fray — Gukesh and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi — facing off against other on April 4.

In the women’s event, the two Indians in the eight-women field — Vaishali Rameshbabu and Humpy Koneru — will take on each other in the first game.

Meanwhile, the third Indian in the open category, Praggnanandhaa R, will face off against Iran-born French star Alireza Firouzja in the opening clash.

As per the Open Candidates draw, Praggnanandhaa and Gukesh will face off in the second round (on April 5) while Vidit and Praggnanandhaa will battle in the third round (on April 6).

The winner of the open Candidates event will challenge Ding Liren for the World Championship, while the winner of the women’s event will take on China’s Ju Wenjun.

There will be rest days on April 8 (after four rounds), April 12 (after seven rounds), April 16 (after 10 rounds) and April 19 (after 12 rounds).

All eight players will play two games against the rest of the seven contenders in a double round robin format. this is the first time in history that both the open and women’s events will take place simultaneously in the same venue: Toronto.

There is still plenty of uncertainty whether the Candidates will go ahead at Toronto as, with just a month left for the prestigious event, Canada has not issued visas for multiple players. As The Indian Express reported, four out of the five Indian chess players who will be in contention are yet to get their visas. FIDE has said they have a plan B in terms of venue in place.

Round 1 pairing for Open category at FIDE Candidates 2024

Fabiano Caruana – Hikaru Nakamura

Nijat Abasov – Ian Nepomniachtchi

Alireza Firouzja – Praggnanandhaa R

Gukesh D – Vidit Santosh Gujrathi

Round 1 pairing for women’s category at FIDE Candidates 2024

Aleksandra Goryachkina – Kateryna Lagno

Anna Muzychuk – Nurgyul Salimova

Lei Tingjie – Tan Zhongyi

Vaishali Rameshbabu – Humpy Koneru

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