Chess: Four in close contention as Candidates reaches weekend climax

With just the final two rounds to come, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura and Gukesh Domaraju share the lead while the world No 2 , Fabiano Caruana, is half a point behind

With 12 rounds complete and just Saturday’s and Sunday’s final two rounds to come, the Candidates in Toronto could hardly be closer. Three players share the lead, another is just half a point behind. The €500k tournament will decide which of its eight contestants challenges China’s Ding Liren for his world crown later this year.

Leaders after 12 rounds (of 14) were : Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia), Hikaru Nakanmura (US), and Gukesh Dommaraju (India) all 7.5; Fabiano Caruana (US) 7; Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India) 6. Three others follow. Key games to come are: Saturday’s round 13, Nepomniachtchi v Nakamura; Sunday’s round 14, Nakamura v Gukesh and Caruana v Nepomniachtchi.

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