Chess
4 Indians into Chess World Cup quarters, Candidates spot almost assured
Barring one very unfortunate coincidence, India will have a Grandmaster at the Candidates tournament other than Viswanathan Anand for the first time.
Gukesh is slated to face Magnus Carlsen in the quarters while Praggnanandhaa will face Arjun Erigaisi in the FIDE World Cup quarters. (FIDE)
India look almost assured to have a representative other than Viswanathan Anand for the first time at the Candidates tournament after four Indians - D Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi and Vidit Gujarathi - progressed to the FIDE Chess World Cup quarterfinals in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Vidit Gujarathi entered the quarters through Monday's tie-breaker.
World rank 7 Gukesh, the top-ranked Indian Grandmaster of current times, is slated to face Magnus Carlsen in his quarterfinal while Praggnanandhaa will face Arjun Erigaisi for a spot in the semis. Vidit will be up against Azerbaijan's Nijat Abasov.
While one semifinal spot in the World Cup is assured for India, it could go to a maximum of three semifinalists in the men's section if Gukesh and Vidit can win their quarters.
No Indian has won a medal at the FIDE World Cup (by finishing in the top three) since Viswanathan Anand won the first two editions of the tournament in 2000 and 2002.
Candidates spots beckon
India's success at the FIDE World Cup spells success in the bigger scheme of things as well. The Candidates tournament, the final contest to determine the challenger for the World Chess Championship in 2024, looks set to feature an Indian other than Viswanathan Anand for the first time.
The top three finishers at the FIDE World Cup will earn places in the 2024 Candidates Tournament, an eight-player chess tournament scheduled to be held from 2 April to 25 April 2024 in Toronto, Canada. Magnus Carlsen's stated intention to skip the Candidates also adds to India's chances.
The winner of the 2024 Candidates tournament will earn the right to play in the World Chess Championship 2024 against the current World Chess Champion Ding Liren.
The 8-member Candidates roster will be the top three finishers in the Chess World Cup 2023, which could be Prag/Arjun, Gukesh, or Vidith, 2023 World Championship runner-up Ian Nepomniachtchi, the top two finishers in the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2023, winner of the 2023 FIDE Circuit and the player with the highest rating in January 2024.
Anand first qualified for the Candidates tournament in 1993. He last qualified for the 2016 World Chess Championship Candidates tournament by virtue of losing the 2014 World Chess Championship match. No Indian has qualified for the Candidates other than him.
