Gukesh loses on time against Firouzja in Round 7 of the FIDE Candidates 2024
In the midst of the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournament, the spotlight fell on GM Gukesh Dommaraju as he stood on the brink of a pivotal victory that could have propelled him into the sole lead. However, the Indian suffered a heartbreaking loss against GM Alireza Firouzja under intense time pressure.
Gukesh, who had been sharing the tournament lead with GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, encountered a formidable challenge in Firouzja. With the advantage of playing with the white pieces, Gukesh found himself in a promising position, a pawn ahead and exerting pressure on his opponent. Yet, in a critical moment of the game, Gukesh made a fateful decision, opting for a piece sacrifice with 27...Nxf2, believing it to be a winning move. However, Firouzja countered with a brilliant defensive maneuver, unleashing 31. Qb3 to restore parity in the game.
Acknowledging his fortune in the post-match press conference, Firouzja credited his success to the alignment of the tactical stars. Despite finding himself trailing a piece, Firouzja’s resilient play, coupled with the potency of his queenside pawns, provided him with a lifeline. However, the intensity escalated as the clock ticked down, and Gukesh succumbed to another critical error with 36...Kh7, leading to a swift collapse of his position.
The riveting conclusion of the match, the final one to conclude, captivated viewers as the cameras zoomed in on the players immersed in the battle of wits. Despite the setback, Gukesh remained composed during the press conference, expressing his anticipation for the upcoming rest day to regroup and improve his performance. With the leader still within reach, Gukesh’s determination to bounce back remained undeterred.
In contrast, Firouzja adopted a pragmatic outlook, viewing his current position as an opportunity to embrace risk and pursue victory in the remaining games. “Now I have nothing to lose... I have to win all of the games basically!” he declared, embodying a spirit of fearless pursuit amidst the competitive fray.
