If the chess Candidates Tournament that is being held these days in Toronto (Canada) is shining for something, it is because of its enormous equality. With two rounds remaining, three players share the lead with seven points. These are the surprising Indian Gukesh D (7.5), the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi (7.5) and the American Hikaru Nakamura (7.5). Half a point behind the three is Fabiano Caruana (7), still with options. This afternoon starting at 8:30 p.m. the penultimate day will be played.
Throughout the first 12 rounds Nepo has been the one in charge in the classification. The Russian, who has already won this tournament twice, aspires to get revenge against Ding Liren, with whom he lost last year in the world title fight. However, this year he has found enormous rivals in Nakamura, Caruana and the surprising Indian.
Gukesh D, only 17 years old, is one of the great entertainers of the tournament, although a very tough match awaits him against Nakamura and another against the French-Iranian Firouzja. Another of the most anticipated direct confrontations is a Nakamura-Nepo that is presumed decisive for the championship.
Everything can still be possible in a completely open championship with two days left to go in which the biggest disappointment has been the Franco-Iranian Firoujza (4.5), ruled out very early. The Indians Praggnanandhaa (6) and Vidit (5) have stayed alive until the last rounds while, as expected, the Azeri Abasov (3) has been the worst of the tournament.
