GM Vidit Gujrathi beats Alireza Firouzja in Round 6 of the FIDE Candidates 2024
GM Vidit Gujrathi is back! After two tough losses, Vidit came back stronger, securing a crucial victory against GM Alireza Firouzja. This win not only helped him bounce back but also gave him a 50% score, 1 point behind the leaders.
In the Candidates clash between Vidit and Firouzja, Vidit showcased his dominance yet again, securing his third victory against his opponent. Firouzja, opting for an unconventional queen maneuver in the Sicilian Rauzer, reminiscent of a move previously employed by Gelfand, found himself in hot water early on, encountering difficulties as early as move 11. Reflecting on the game, Vidit remarked, “It was very apparent that I’m better. The only question was if I can convert it cleanly because I was low on time.”.
After narrowly missing an opportunity to triumph over Caruana in the previous round, Vidit seems to have regained his stride, as he expressed, “The people around me showed the positive side.”.
As the tournament reaches its midway point with round seven, players will soon face familiar adversaries once more in this double round-robin format. Notably, both frontrunners will navigate their matches as Black: Nepomniachtchi will contend against the resilient Nakamura, while Gukesh will strive to maintain his composure against a potentially unsettled Firouzja.
Caruana and Praggnanandhaa, both trailing the leaders by a half-point, remain within striking distance, while Vidit aims to sustain his impressive resurgence against the lowest-seeded competitor in the tournament. Following this round, players will enjoy a well-deserved rest day before continuing their pursuit of victory.
