Did Praggnanandhaa miss a golden alternative in opposition to Nepomniachtchi? May the identical be mentioned for Vidit in opposition to Caruana? What about Tan in opposition to Salimova? Lagno in opposition to Lei? In a means, it depends upon who you are asking. In case you ask the oracle of Caïssa,Stockfish 16.1, the reply to all these questions is a powerful sure. In case you ask our commentators, although, the reply might not be really easy. Probabilities had been missed, that is for positive, however the alternatives missed had been by no means clear for human gamers — there is a fairly good cause why the gamers who’re aiming to turn into world champions missed them, in any case. In spite of everything of at present’s wild swings, the standings in each the open and girls’s modified little, with the leaderboard within the ladies’s not altering in any respect and that within the Open altering barely, propelling Gukesh to shared 1st place with Nepomniachtchi.

In addition to broadcasting the stay video games from the 2 tournaments, Lichess is offering a stay stream for day-after-day of the Candidates. Be certain that to tune in to our Twitch or YouTube channels, with streams ranging from 14:15 Toronto time (18:15 UTC).

We’re additionally offering every day annotations on a number of the video games from GM Brandon Jacobson and IM / WGM Padmini Rout.

Schedule

Spherical Recap

Open Part

4 doubtlessly decisive video games. Chess followers are merely being spoiled by this yr’s Candidates match and its enterprising gamers. Nakamura and Gukesh had been at present’s winners, however there was additionally fairly a great likelihood for Vidit and Praggnanandhaa to hitch them.

Praggnanandhaa and his sister, Vaishali, appear to have some actually deep concepts in opposition to the Petrov. Vaishali sacrificed a knight on f7 in opposition to Salimova in spherical 3, and so too did her brother in spherical 5 in opposition to Nepomniachtchi. Regardless of one aspect having an additional piece, the engine evaluated the place as equal. A comparatively well-known adage states that “if the engine evaluates a piece-down place (or any place the place there is a materials sacrifice) as equal, it should be higher for the aspect who sacrificed the piece”. That was certainly borne out on this sport as Praggnanandhaa, had he performed 26. Qe5, might have successfully pressured a pawn-up bishop vs. knight place which might have been profitable, even objectively. Alas, that was to not be as items bought traded after 26. Bf5 and a draw was agreed on transfer 44. GM Brandon Jacobson explains this deeply tactical sport:

https://lichess.org/examine/Mj0wdEVK/KYBHawTD#0

Gukesh and Abasov noticed one other Petrov, however, this time, the sport was technical quite than sharp. Gukesh had an early benefit as a result of his better-coordinated items, however easy crusing was tough in these turbulent Petrov waters. Abasov fought again twice, maybe thrice, and possibly even 4 instances. Sadly for Abasov, who needed to cope with defending a queen endgame a pawn down, he blundered underneath time strain and resigned on the 87th transfer.

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Nakamura and Firouzja have performed numerous instances in opposition to one another in on-line chess, however not as usually in classical chess. Many followers had been eagerly awaiting to see what opening each gamers would select, and the opening did stay as much as expectations because the ensuing place on transfer 17 appeared recent, unexplored, and with loads to play for — for each gamers. The sport was fairly wealthy and sophisticated, but it surely didn’t stray too far off from equality. Fortunately, GM Brandon Jacobson is right here to information us by these hidden complexities. Underneath the duress of time strain, Firouzja “blundered” on transfer 62 in what was a really tough place that required a whole lot of calculation.

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Caruana’s Sicilian in opposition to Vidit, who’s coming off two back-to-back losses, was an indication that Caruana was able to combat to attempt to catch Nepomniachtchi atop the leaderboard. Vidit additionally didn’t draw back from issues, castling on the queenside and going for a extremely tactical and uncontrolled place. Quickly sufficient, Vidit had an enormous benefit as Caruana’s king appeared precariously positioned within the heart of the board, whereas Vidit’s items had been lurking across the undefended Black king. Vidit’s hardest check got here on transfer 26, the place, this time and compared to Praggnanandhaa’s sport, 26. Qe5 allowed Caruana to pressure a draw after 26…Qa4. Certainly this sport proved to be a missed alternative for Vidit, however the profitable / almost-winning 26. Kc2 was not solely not simple to seek out, but in addition very dangerous to play.

https://lichess.org/examine/embed/MDiLWQ5M/rPvG2O10#0

Following these outcomes, our simulations present that Nepomniachtchi’s probabilities have vastly improved, whereas each Caruana and Gukesh have good probabilities to win the occasion as nicely. Nakamura has a small outdoors likelihood to win all of it, and, tragically for Abasov, his probabilities have gone right down to 0%.

Ladies’s Part

4 attracts, three thrilling video games. The much less thrilling of the bunch, Humpy’s sport in opposition to Goryachkina, was not an insipid draw, both. Lagno was the closest to really profitable her sport, however, regardless of at present’s chaotic spherical, peace appeared to be on the agenda.

The match chief, Tan Zhongyi — within the sole lead — performed in opposition to match newcomer Nurgyul Salimova. Tan opted for the very best by check 1. e4 and Salimova replied with the Caro-Kann, with Tan selecting the Advance variation. Tan outplayed Salimova within the opening, maintaining maintain of her superior central e-pawn, however an inaccuracy on transfer 17 allowed Salimova some counterplay and threats of her personal, and Tan by no means regained the tempo or momentum. From there, Salmova was in a position to press Tan, though Tan by no means appeared prone to this tailspinning into something apart from a draw. The draw was finally realised on transfer 58 after edgy manoeuvering, in what was a strong consequence for Salimova. IM / WGM Padmini Rout explains this sport in additional element:

https://lichess.org/examine/Mj0wdEVK/QnVSqfCd#0

In the meantime, the stalwart Humpy Koneru was going through off in opposition to one of many match favourites, Aleksandra Goryachkina. Each gamers opted for well-travelled concept, solely diverging from earlier performed video games (per the Lichess masters database) on transfer 16. The ensuing place appeared inherently tough for both participant to make important progress in, and after a cursory effort and investigation by each gamers, their battle progressed right into a skirmish after which right into a truce on transfer 44.

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Lei Tingjie, the match favorite going into the occasion, was going through one other stalwart — the skilled Kateryna Lagno. Lei opted for the Italian Recreation, with Lagno going for the Two Knights Protection. Lei finally went for Benko-esque compensation by sacrificing a pawn on the queenside to achieve extra central management. That call was good for Lei, who was higher; nonetheless, afterward within the sport, Lei’s place ended up feeling a bit congested and cramped, with Lagno’s items exerting strong affect deep into White’s territory. The place appeared promising for Lagno, solidified by a mistake from Lei on transfer 30. Lagno, although, didn’t discover the optimum mixture, and a blunder by Lagno on transfer 39 gave Lei a fortunate escape and the sport led to a draw on transfer 44.

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The ultimate sport of the day was between newcomer Vaishali R and Anna Muzychuk. Vaishali went for a Giuoco Pianissimo, and each gamers adopted established strains. Video games exist within the Lichess participant database till transfer 15, though Muychuk’s response was unseen on Lichess servers till at present. In a really locked-in pawn construction, Vaishali sacrificed her g4 pawn (with Muzychuk submitting to the unstated rule of chess that each one en passant captures should be accepted), in trade for higher positional solidity, giving her king entry to the centre. With no pawns in a position to transfer, rooks unable to interrupt by, and kings unable to make it by enemy strains, a draw was agreed ready which might inevitably invoke the 50-move rule in any other case. IM / WGM Padmini Rout breaks down this slugfest:

https://lichess.org/examine/Mj0wdEVK/Oyy9rybC#0

Following these outcomes, our simulations present that Tan has wonderful probabilities to win the occasion, however one shouldn’t depend out Goryachkina.Others even have an out of doors likelihood of profitable the occasion, with Lagno having a good likelihood.

Spherical 6 Preview

Within the Open, Gukesh and Nepomniachtchi, the present match leaders, will face the 2 pre-tournament favorites, Nakamura and Caruana, respectively. Vidit and Firouzja, each having misplaced two video games, will play in opposition to one another, whereas Praggnanandhaa will probably be seeking to be a part of the leaders and press as White in opposition to Abasov, whose response will probably be fairly intriguing: will Abasov play dangerous chess or take it simple and check out to attract as Black?

Within the Ladies’s part, Tan will face Muzychuk, who has had three good or profitable positions in her final three video games. With at present’s 4 attracts, not a lot has modified within the standings, so the identical concerns from spherical 4 stay. Vaishali vs. Lagno and Salimova vs. Goryachkina will probably be necessary for the standings, whereas it is going to be fascinating to see if Lei or Humpy can bounce again.

Be certain that to observe the motion with us in Spherical 6!