Vidit Gujrathi defeats HIkaru Nakamura for the second time in the 2024 FIDE Candidates
In Round 9 of the 2024 FIDE Candidates in Toronto, Canada, GM Vidit Gujrathi beats World No.3 GM Hikaru Nakamura for the second time in classical chess to mark a 2-0 score for Vidit in the Candidates!
GM Vidit Gujrathi clinched victory against GM Hikaru Nakamura in round two of this year’s Candidates Tournament with the black pieces, marking a pivotal moment in his career. Although this tough defeat, Nakamura had been on an upward trajectory in the tournament, beating GM Fabiano Caruana in Round 8, and getting back in the game of winning the Tournament.
In Round 9 it was time for Hikaru to face Vidit once again with the black pieces himself. Opting for the fashionable Italian Game, Nakamura embarked on an audacious path by initiating an early 6…g5, securing a promising position from the onset.
Reflecting on the game, Vidit pinpointed Black’s 15…Nh5 as a dubious move, signaling a turning point where his optimism surged. As the position gradually unraveled in subsequent moves, Nakamura’s calculations faltered in time pressure, leading to a succession of errors culminating in his resignation.
“Obviously I did not find the right moves, but my time usage was absolutely horrible. It was a huge reason why I could not find decent ideas, especially around moves 24-25.” the American GM acknowledged post-game.
But even in bad results, Hikaru is there to comment on his game!
