Lichess’s Blog • Gukesh and Tan Zhongyi are Officially the World Championship Challengers • lichess.org

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The 17 year old Indian prodigy, Gukesh D, officially won the FIDE Candidates 2024 and will be facing the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren, to fight for the World Champion title later this year. Gukesh drew in his own game against Hikaru Nakamura, and for some time it looked as if the game would go to rapid tiebreaks, as Caruana had a winning position against Nepomniachtchi.

https://lichess.org/study/embed/S4zisI6M/JPsDSKMA

However, Nepomniachtchi who hasn’t lost a Candidates game since his final round loss against Ding Liren in the second stage of the Yekaterinburg Candidates, came back against all odds in a wildly oscillating game. In a massive blow to the American, Nepomniachtchi managed to hold, and the half point meant Gukesh retained his sole lead, and with it won the Candidates Tournament.

https://lichess.org/study/embed/S4zisI6M/eSEMsY2p

The result is historic, with Gukesh the youngest Challenger for the Open World Champion title in chess history. Hou Yifan was 16 when she became the Challenger for the Women’s World Championship.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Tan Zhongyi drew while compatriot Lei Tingjie lost, with no other player able to catch Tan Zhongyi. Tan Zhongyi has previously been Women’s World Champion, but lost her title to incumbent Ju Wenjun. Regardless, the result guarantees whatever happens in the Women’s World Championship, the titleholder will remain with a player from the Chinese federation.

https://lichess.org/study/embed/7Eeze5c7/pWAx7T3g#0

This article is breaking, more information will come soon…