GMs Hikaru Nakamura, Vidit Gujrathi, and Andrey Esipenko lead the FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 with 7.5 factors going into the final spherical. They beat, respectively, GMs Fabiano Caruana, Bogdan-Daniel Deac, and Parham Maghsoodloo. As a historic feat, there have been seven (!) decisive outcomes on the highest seven boards.

Within the Ladies’s, IM Vaishali Rameshbabu gained in opposition to former World Champion GM Tan Zhongyi. She leads the event with eight factors and has certified for the Candidates with a spherical to spare, whereas GM Anna Muzychuk is a half-point behind. 

The ultimate spherical begins on Sunday, November 5 at 9:15 a.m. ET / 15:15 CET / 7:45 p.m. IST. 

6 Gamers Battle For two Candidates Spots On Final Day In Open

As we put together for the ultimate spherical of the event, tiebreaks can be crucial. There can be no head-to-head matches.  Ties can be damaged within the order of the next:

Tiebreaks

1. 1. Common Ranking of Opponents Reduce 1
   2. Buchholz Reduce 1
   3. Buchholz
   4. Direct encounter
   5. Drawing of heaps

Solely six gamers are nonetheless eligible for the 2 Candidates spots supplied on this event. Esipenko has the very best tiebreaks, which means he mechanically qualifies if he wins with Black in opposition to GM Anish Giri.

The opposite gamers will hope for an Esipenko loss on board one. The gamers who can nonetheless qualify are Esipenko, Nakamura, Vidit, GM Aleksandr Predke, and GM Arjun Erigaisi. GM Vincent Keymer is the final potential participant, however he might want to beat GM Fabiano Caruana with Black and have Esipenko lose his recreation in spherical 11.

Odds Of Successful Event / Qualifying For Candidates 

Open: Prime 7 Boards Are All Decisive  

Leko put Nakamura’s newest victory into perspective: “Hikaru bounced again in opposition to Fabiano within the Candidates in his white recreation, then he has overwhelmed him in Stavanger, and now he’s beating him once more. That is unimaginable. I do not actually recall anybody beating Fabiano in three crucial video games ever of their profession, however right here it is taking place inside one yr.”

I do not actually recall anybody beating Fabiano in three crucial video games ever of their profession, however right here it is taking place inside one yr.

—Peter Leko 

“Currently, in on-line and over the board, Hikaru has held the supremacy,” mentioned Naroditsky earlier on the printed about this all-American matchup, including Nakamura’s success of their on-line encounters as effectively, the Velocity Chess Championship, and the Chessable Masters. 

Though Nakamura simply evened their lifetime rating with this recreation, +8 -8 =33, he is gained all three of their newest classical encounters.

Nakamura And Esipenko Win With Darkish-Sq. Dominance

The 4 Knights Scotch is just not essentially the most bold opening White can play, however after 10.h3, Leko introduced: “I feel this can be a clear signal that he desires to get a recreation!” After 17.a4! Rfe8, Nakamura commented in his recap: “I feel Fabiano form of fell asleep on the wheel. I feel he assumed that on this recreation, I would be pleased with a draw.” 

I feel he assumed that on this recreation, I would be pleased with a draw.
—Hikaru Nakamura

There are about 5 OTB video games after 14…Ne4 on this line, and two of these video games are mine from White. I drew each the video games with no inspiration.

I bear in mind going through this in 2014 – at the moment it was a completely new concept to play like this as Black. I received nothing and bear in mind feeling… https://t.co/UqlrpBzfuJ

— Srinath Narayanan (@srinathchess) November 4, 2023

Just like their final encounter, the reigning U.S. champion bumped into hassle shortly after the opening strikes, and Nakamura’s items took intention on the king, particularly on the darkish squares. GM Dejan Bojkov analyzes the Sport of the Day under (annotations to be added quickly).

You’ll be able to hearken to Nakamura’s evaluation within the video under.

Additionally, why is GM Alireza Firouzja rooting for Nakamura within the thumbnail? If the American GM claims his Candidates spot by profitable the event, the French number-one can have his shot at getting into the Candidates by ranking.

Curiously, on board three Esipenko additionally gained with an assault on the darkish squares in opposition to Maghsoodloo, because of his unopposed bishop. 

The most effective transfer of the sport is one which wasn’t performed. 28.Bg7!! would have ended the sport roughly on the spot, a lovely illustration of the dark-square grip—admittedly, if performed, it is also a transfer that may elevate some eyebrows.

Vidit Wins With Black, 4 Extra Decisive Video games On Prime Boards

Seven decisive video games on the highest seven boards had been fairly a sight to behold, and lots of decisive moments occurred close to transfer 40. “It is full insanity,” mentioned Leko. “I do not assume that this ever occurred earlier than in any prime event or in any of the Grand Swisses, and I do not imagine that it’ll ever occur once more as a result of that is very distinctive.”

I do not assume that this ever occurred earlier than in any prime event or in any of the Grand Swisses.

—Peter Leko

Essentially the most vital of those remaining video games, in fact, was Deac-Vidit, the place the Indian grandmaster gained to hitch the main group. The time scramble earlier than transfer 40 was hectic, however he by no means gave up the benefit.

“It was not straightforward to play for a win with the black items, and I managed to place stress and in addition convert, so I could not have requested for extra,” he mentioned after the sport.

Now world number-17 on the stay ranking listing, he is been on a roll since dropping in spherical one.

A half-point behind, Keymer, Arjun, and Predke, all gained their video games, together with Giri who’s some extent behind the leaders.

GM Hans Niemann vs. Giri was the final to complete, and by transfer 69 Giri had below two minutes in opposition to the U.S. grandmaster’s 40 minutes. Niemann had just a few possibilities, particularly after he performed 66.Ke7!! (solely transfer), however the Dutch number-one floor out the victory. 

Regardless of the hard-fought win, Giri is not going to end within the prime two right here. He’ll nonetheless have a shot at qualifying for the Candidates by the FIDE Circuit, the place he’s number-four, behind GM Wesley So.

The ultimate place in Arjun’s victory in opposition to GM Sam Sevian appears to be like like a murals. The Indian GM gained the pawn race with a checkmate risk on the finish.

Predke overcame GM Yuriy Kuzubov in an explosion of ways within the middlegame, whereas Keymer’s g-pawn advance was paying homage to his round-seven win in opposition to GM Anton Korobov. 

Identical to his win in spherical seven in opposition to Anton Korobov, Vincent Keymer begins a kingside assault with 20.g5!.#FIDEGrandSwiss pic.twitter.com/AiQiisFRir

— chess24.com (@chess24com) November 4, 2023

An honorable point out on the decrease boards is GM Abhimanyu Mishra‘s upset victory over former world number-two Vasyl Ivanchuk.

The video games on the top-four boards are essentially the most related for the 2 Candidates spots supplied. No matter shade, the six key gamers can be eager about a combat.

Spherical 11 Pairings

Spherical 10 Standings | Prime 20 

(Full outcomes right here.)

Ladies’s: Vaishali Qualifies For Candidates With Spherical To Spare 

Vaishali’s brother, GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, certified for the 2024 Candidates by ending second within the FIDE World Cup. After her victory on Saturday, they’re the primary sibling pair ever to make it to each respective Candidates tournaments collectively.

Fascinating coincidence: Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, the chess-playing siblings are presently ranked #14 within the World Open and World Ladies’s rankings respectively! #FIDEGrandSwiss

Pragg’s stay ranking: 2736.9
Vaishali’s stay ranking: 2492.2 pic.twitter.com/kjHbjeg05S

— Chess.com – India (@chesscom_in) November 4, 2023

Anna Muzychuk is the one different participant inside putting distance to win the event. However seeing as she’s already within the Candidates Event after ending third within the Ladies’s FIDE World Cup, Vaishali’s spot is already assured no matter how she finishes.

Naroditsky described Vaishali’s recreation this manner: “You completely do not get the sense of an IM whenever you have a look at this recreation. You get the sense of a really seasoned, skilled, measured grandmaster.” Leko’s take was: “Good and crushing victory by Vaishali!”

You completely do not get the sense of an IM whenever you have a look at this recreation. You get the sense of a really seasoned, skilled, measured grandmaster.
—Daniel Naroditsky

Her victory in opposition to Tan was an incisive lesson in enjoying in opposition to a king within the middle of the board. 

Vaishali, who can earn the grandmaster title on Sunday if she wins with Black, mentioned: “The grandmaster title has been an enormous dream for me since my childhood.” You’ll be able to hearken to her evaluation under.

Anna Muzychuk, on board two, defeated IM Deysi Cori with a lethal assault in a queenless middlegame. She is the one participant half some extent behind the chief, adopted by IM Batkhuyag Munguntuul with seven factors. 

There are nonetheless one other 4 gamers with 6.5 factors who will combat for that second Candidates spot on Sunday. They’re, so as of tiebreaks, IM Leya Garifullina, Tan, GM Antoaneta Stefanova, and GM Pia Cramling. The Candidates can also be a chance for gamers on six factors provided that Black wins on board one.

If Munguntuul beats Vaishali on demand, she’s going to safe that second Candidates spot—finish of story. A draw on board one opens the door for the others. Simply as within the Open part, we’ll see loads of combating chess.

Spherical 11 Pairings

Spherical 10 Standings | Prime 20 

Rk.	SNo	FED		Title	Rtg	Pts.	TB1
1	12		IM	Vaishali, Rameshbabu	2448	8	2464
2	5		GM	Muzychuk, Anna	2510	7.5	2446
3	40		IM	Munguntuul, Batkhuyag	2366	7	2440
4	25		IM	Garifullina, Leya	2402	6.5	2469
5	4		GM	Tan, Zhongyi	2517	6.5	2445
6	21		GM	Stefanova, Antoaneta	2424	6.5	2435
7	14		GM	Cramling, Pia	2446	6.5	2398
8	43		WGM	Kamalidenova, Meruert	2351	6	2477
9	34		IM	Tsolakidou, Stavroula	2385	6	2470
10	39		IM	Cori T., Deysi	2367	6	2464
11	27		IM	Narva, Mai	2399	6	2462
12	10		IM	Assaubayeva, Bibisara	2469	6	2441
13	3		GM	Muzychuk, Mariya	2519	6	2408
14	17		IM	Javakhishvili, Lela	2437	6	2405
15	15		IM	Mammadzada, Gunay	2441	6	2390
16	30		IM	Milliet, Sophie	2391	5.5	2477
17	36		GM	Socko, Monika	2380	5.5	2445
18	32		IM	Tania, Sachdev	2389	5.5	2439
19	1		GM	Goryachkina, Aleksandra	2558	5.5	2433
20	7		GM	Dronavalli, Harika	2502	5.5	2397

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The 2023 FIDE Grand Swiss (FGS) is likely one of the occasions of the FIDE World Championship cycle with the highest two gamers qualifying for the 2024 Candidates Event. The FGS began on October 25 at 9:30 a.m. ET/15:30 CEST/19:00 IST and encompasses a $460,000 prize fund.

The 2023 FIDE Ladies’s Grand Swiss (FWGS) encompasses a $140,000 prize fund and runs concurrently. The highest two gamers qualify for the 2024 Ladies’s Candidates Event.

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