Candidates 2022 Madrid June 16 - July 7

[Scott Colliver]

Ding played a shocker and loses to Radjabov

[Scott Colliver]

Nepo has won the second candidates in a row. I know he could still be caught if he loses 2 games in a row but it is not happening. It is all over and Nepo has won.

[MichaelBaron]

Now the question is...will Magnus play him or not...

[Scott Colliver]

Now the question is...will Magnus play him or not...

Yes, that is the big question. If Magnus does play Nepo I expect it to be one sided again. Magnus is quite a bit better than anyone else in the world.

[Patrick Byrom]

Nepo has won the second candidates in a row. I know he could still be caught if he loses 2 games in a row but it is not happening. It is all over and Nepo has won.

I think you're right - it's surprising that nobody picked him in the poll, considering he did win the previous one.

[Craig_Hall]

Interesting YouTube video by Nakamura explaining why he took the draw rather than avoid it. Playing for a win as black against e4 is risky and the possibility (however slim) of Carlsen refusing to play means that second place is worth keeping in reach over any slim winning possibilities.

[Scott Colliver]

Interesting YouTube video by Nakamura explaining why he took the draw rather than avoid it. Playing for a win as black against e4 is risky and the possibility (however slim) of Carlsen refusing to play means that second place is worth keeping in reach over any slim winning possibilities.

I think Nakamura's loss to Radjabov when he tried to win as black made him quite shy of trying to win with black against Nepo.

[Patrick Byrom]

And a boring draw between Nepomniachtchi and Rapport makes Nepomniachtchi the winner!

[Scott Colliver]

So now we have two rather uninspiring options.
1. Carlsen smashes Nepo again
2. Nepo playes whoever finishes 2nd when we know they are nowhere near the strongest player in the world.

[Andrew Hardegen]

Nakamura is very close to winning against Duda in Round 13. The three other games were all drawn. Assuming Nakamura does go on to win, the standings after Round 13 will be:

Nepomniachtchi +5
Nakamura +2
Ding +1
Radjabov +0
Caruana +0
Rapport -2
Duda -3
Firouzja -3

If this eventuates, then there will be no tie for second place, as we have Ding - Nakamura in Round 14.

[Scott Colliver]

Ding beats Nakamura to secure 2nd place. Ding did very to wear Nakamura down in what looked like quite a drawish position.

So if Carlsen declines to defend his title it will be Nepo against Ding.

Chess.com coverage had Emil Sutovsky on and he said FIDE are expecting an answer from Carlsen by about July 20th.

[Scott Colliver]

Firouzja beat Caruana with black in the last game of the Candidates.

Caruana lost 4 games in the second half in a total collapse.