Candidates 2022 Madrid June 16 - July 7

[Desmond]

Yes you're right Scott. Updated standings:

1. Nepo 4.5/6 +3
2. Caruana 4/6 +2
3-4. Nakamura, Rapport 3/6 +0
5-7. Ding, Radjabov, Duda 2.5/6 -1
8. Firouzja 2/6 -2.

[Scott Colliver]

I watched Nakamura going over his game with Ding and he was very disappointed because he thought he had a position where Ding could easily go astray and give him a winning attack. However Ding found all the best moves and the game ended in a draw.

[Desmond]

I watched Nakamura going over his game with Ding and he was very disappointed because he thought he had a position where Ding could easily go astray and give him a winning attack. However Ding found all the best moves and the game ended in a draw.

I didn't watch the latest round yet, but this sounds quite similar to Ding pushing against Fabi a few days ago. Seemed like there might be something there, but Fabi navigated it brilliantly and made the defence look easy.
Firouzja has looked quite out of sorts. Very well booked up, but once he gets out of book he's burning a lot of time.

[Capablanca-Fan]

Nepo and Caruana both win to make it look like a race between the two of them.

Firouzja now in last place has no chance of winning the Candidates.

Both the leaders were recent challengers and lost. If either of them wins then Magnus cedes the title, they would be the best placeholders, making the best of an unsatisfactory solution.

It is NOT akin to Karpov winning the title in 1975. He not only won the Candidates, beating Spassky as convincingly as Fischer had, but also had never even met Fischer let alone lost to him. (In hindsight, Karpov proved he was a most worthy champion.) Rather, it would be more like Spassky or Petrosian winning the 1974 Candidates cycle then inheriting the title from the man who thrashed both of them.

[Scott Colliver]

Nepo wins again after Rapport makes a terrible deecision to reject a repetition for a much worse position

[Scott Colliver]

Caruana wins a long game against Radjabov to stay 1/2 a point behind Nepo

[MichaelBaron]

Aamzing luck for Nepo - opponent falling for his long computer analysis.

[Ian Rout]

Aamzing luck for Nepo - opponent falling for his long computer analysis.

Actually it wasn't his - according to Caruana the line has been known for a decade and is regarded as a draw. See this video from about the 10m point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUMAAIgC2o8

[Desmond]

Nepo's lead extended thanks to Naka defeating Caruana. Caruana - Nepo tonight will be key if anyone is able to catch him, it must be getting into must-win territory now for Fabi.

1. Nepo 6/8 +4
2. Caruana 5/8 +2
3. Nakamura 4.5/8 +1
4. Rapport 4/8 +0
5. Ding 3.5/8 -1
6-8. Duda, Radjabov, Firouzja 3/8 -2

[Scott Colliver]

Nepo's lead extended thanks to Naka defeating Caruana. Caruana - Nepo tonight will be key if anyone is able to catch him, it must be getting into must-win territory now for Fabi.

1. Nepo 6/8 +4
2. Caruana 5/8 +2
3. Nakamura 4.5/8 +1
4. Rapport 4/8 +0
5. Ding 3.5/8 -1
6-8. Duda, Radjabov, Firouzja 3/8 -2

Yes, Caruana probably needs a win and if Nepo wins it is probably all over barring a big collapse from Nepo.
Nakamura will need to play for a win as black again Radjabov to keep his very slim chances alive
The other two games tonight might be interesting but they are really irrelevant to 1st place

[Kevin Bonham]

Three decisive games but Nepo survives a rather bad position after Caruana's 24.Bxf5 instead of 24.Bf1 allows mass liquidation. Nepo one ahead with five to play.

PGN Viewer

 

[MichaelBaron]

Amazing luck. Everything keep's going Nepo's way.

[Scott Colliver]

Amazing luck. Everything keep's going Nepo's way.

Yes it does seem to be although even if Caruana had found Bf1 it still would have been a incredibly complex position

[Andrew Hardegen]

Amazing luck. Everything keep's going Nepo's way.

But can he equal Topalov's 10/14 in 2005?

[Andrew Hardegen]

To win the Candidates, bet365 is currently giving odds of $1.16 for Nepo, and $5.50 for Fabi.