2024 Candidates qualification revised process

[LawrenceCooper]

Wesley loses, Lenier wins and the other two draw.

6 ↑1 So, Wesley 2757.1 +5.1
7 ↑6 Dominguez Perez, Leinier 2756.7 +11.7
8 ↓3 Firouzja, Alireza 2750.9 −26.1
10 ↓2 Giri, Anish 2748.4 −3.6

[Paul Cooksey]

So just has white against Nepo today and a last round bye left. Therefore So seems unlikely to take the circuit place, but likely to be top of the ratings unless another contender plays in December.

There is some discussion of it being in Giri's interest to lose a game to ensure So does not pass him in circuit ratings. But seemed to me that was less of an issue following yesterdays results.

A bit unfortunate the snapshot of classical ratings takes place directly after the world rapid and blitz, which I assume most top players will prioritise. Otherwise this would have been an exciting race next month.

[Leonard Barden]

There are strong rumours that India will organise a tournament in mid-December to boost Gukesh's chances of the circuit place, following the precedent set by Ding in 2021. India is already providing sizeable funds to assist Vidit, Pragg and Vaishali with their Candidates preparation, so the rumours are very credible. It is hard to tell how far the extra tournament depends on Gukesh's result in London.

[Mick Norris]

The World Rapid and Blitz are in the FIDE circuit; you can count 1 event in your best 5 that isn't at standard time controls

[LawrenceCooper]

Wesley loses, Lenier wins and the other two draw.

6 ↑1 So, Wesley 2757.1 +5.1
7 ↑6 Dominguez Perez, Leinier 2756.7 +11.7
8 ↓3 Firouzja, Alireza 2750.9 −26.1
10 ↓2 Giri, Anish 2748.4 −3.6

6 ↑1 So, Wesley 2757.4 +5.4
7 ↑6 Dominguez Perez, Leinier 2756.5
8 ↓3 Firouzja, Alireza 2750.9
10 ↓2 Giri, Anish 2749.0 −3.0

All of the above drew, two games finished in half an hour and one in an hour. Exciting stuff!

[LawrenceCooper]

https://www.fide.com/news/2771

1. Qualification procedure for the (open) Candidates 2024.
The following order of priority shall apply for two remaining spots: qualification via FIDE Circuit goes first, then qualification by rating goes, not taking into account all those players who gained the right to participate earlier via other paths.

2. Allocation of FIDE Circuit points in the Sinquefield Cup.
According to the FIDE Circuit Regulations, the players who finish in the top half of the final standings receive Circuit points. After GM Duda’s withdrawal, with only nine remaining participants, the 5th final place is not in the top half anymore and, therefore, shall not receive any FIDE Circuit points.

3. Qualification for the Candidates 2024 by rating.
A player shall participate in at least four FIDE Circuit tournaments with a standard time control. These tournaments shall meet all the requirements of the FIDE Circuit Regulations, particularly both general (1.1) and country restrictions (3.2). clauses. Thus, out of the four above-mentioned tournaments, not more than two (one of which is a national championship) can be played in the same country. If this rule is not respected, the player is not eligible for qualification.

[Geoff Chandler]

Regarding Leonard's post above. It may be more than a rumour. There is a 'Help Chess Masters 2023' tournament being held in India and ready to go on the 15th December. No list of players yet. https://ratings.fide.com/tournament_det ... ent=351946

[Mick Norris]

Nepo - Giri, MVL- Firouzja, Aronian - Giri drawn

Caruana- Rapport ongoing

So will be 3rd at worst, 2nd equal at best

[LawrenceCooper]

Nepo - Giri, MVL- Firouzja, Aronian - Giri drawn

Caruana- Rapport ongoing

So will be 3rd at worst, 2nd equal at best

Caruana won to win the tournament and return to 2800+ live (2804).

6 ↑1 So, Wesley 2757.4 +5.4
7 ↑6 Dominguez Perez, Leinier 2756.2 +11.2
8 ↓3 Firouzja, Alireza 2750.3 −26.7
10 ↓2 Giri, Anish 2749.3 −2.7

Dominguez, when interviewed after his game, said he will be looking into tournaments outside the US in December.

[Paul Cooksey]

A very good result for Fabi and nice to see him climb above 2800 again at a time when most people are talking about rating deflation. I will probably be supporting him in the Candidates. Stylistically, he isn't exactly my cup of tea. But strong enough to be a legitimate champion and there doesn't seem any doubt he views himself as a profession chess player or that he would be an active champion.

[Mick Norris]

FIDE Circuit leader board updated

Giri 84.31
So 83.40
Gukesh 79.50 (playing London)
Erigaisi 71.56 (playing Gashimov Memorial)

[Geoff Chandler]

I'm not 100% sure but would it not have been in Anish Giri's interest to lose his last round Sinquefield Cup game v Nepo so both Nepo and Wes So tied equal third with 4½ points. Would Wes So still have picked up 18.5 FIDE Circuit points?

I tried to make sense of the regulations, https://handbook.fide.com/files/handbo ... t_2023.pdf I think I am correct;

2.3 The number of basic points that tied players score shall be calculated as 50% of basic
points for their final ranking determined by the tournament’s tie‐break rules, plus 50% of
the sum of basic points assigned for the tied places divided by the number of tied players.
If none tie‐break system is applied, the basic points shall be shared equally among all
players in tie.

[Mick Norris]

There's a reasonable suggestion that Giri didn't want to beat Caruana, so Fabi stayed ahead of So in the tournament; it's possible Giri had worked out that 3rd would keep So behind him in the FIDE Circuit, thus negating any need to lose to Nepo

I assume Giri is thinking about whether to play again this month; he probably thinks that Dominguez won't overtake him in the Circuit, as he's over 30 points behind although only having 3 events counting; and he'll no doubt be keeping an eye on how Gukesh does in London

[Pete Morriss]

FIDE Circuit leader board updated

Giri 84.31
So 83.40
Gukesh 79.50 (playing London)
Erigaisi 71.56 (playing Gashimov Memorial)

I think that the London Chess Classic is not relevant here: even if Gukesh were to win, he would gain an insignificant number of FIDE Circuit points (less than 0.2). He would then have to get a higher-scoring result somewhere else, when his London result would disappear from the calculation. The tournament is just not strong enough to be useful to him.

[LawrenceCooper]

FIDE Circuit leader board updated

Giri 84.31
So 83.40
Gukesh 79.50 (playing London)
Erigaisi 71.56 (playing Gashimov Memorial)

I think that the London Chess Classic is not relevant here: even if Gukesh were to win, he would gain an insignificant number of FIDE Circuit points (less than 0.2). He would then have to get a higher-scoring result somewhere else, when his London result would disappear from the calculation. The tournament is just not strong enough to be useful to him.

I haven't checked myself but others have said that if he wins outright it will make a huge difference to his chances.