The Candidates....

[Hans Jung]

Rd 7 I feel for Gukesh - one horrible king move when he was fighting so well. Wild game between him and Firoujza.

[Hans Jung]

Rd7 Nakamura vs Nepo Fortune favors the brave. Nepo sure made the most of his knights. You have to marvel how Nepo brought his knight from b8 all the way to g3 to kill the white queen. At the end of the combination Nakamura had rook, bishop, and knight against the queen but could not coordinate his pieces. Entertaining draw.

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/candidates-tournament-2024-open-7

[Hans Jung]

https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-fide-candidates-tournament-round-7

[Hans Jung]

Rd 7 In the women's Goryachkina vs Tan was a fighting draw.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 7 Lei played a nice combination at the end to breakdown Vaishali's king position

[Hans Jung]

At the half Nepo at 4.5, a half point ahead of Caruana, Gukesh, and Pragga.

The Indians are definitely having their say and causing much of the excitement in the tournament. Nepo ever resourceful.

[Hans Jung]

At the half Tan with 5. Goryachkina at 4.5 a half point back. Lahno and Lei with 4.

Tan is playing the best chess of the field.

[Hans Jung]

https://www.chess.com/news/view/caruana-dream-world-chess-champion

[Hans Jung]

Rd 8 Nakamura Yes! I was waiting for this! 35.Nd5!! tactics! , I was following the game patiently and when Caruana took over the f4 square with his knights I thought Nakamura would have to hunker down. But no, Caruana retreated his knights and Nakamura got his opportunity!!

[Hans Jung]

Rd 8 Also Gukesh! Iron will to win. It was almost like he was telegraphing his moves, chessboard geography, triple on the A-file, then in along the last rank and then the two knights covering key squares on the kingside. The clincher was Rxf5!! because if white takes queen then pawn g5 with spectacular mate! There's no way he could have planned that deep. Fortune favors the attacker.

[Hans Jung]

Pragga Firoujza draw and Nepo and Abasov deep into the endgame. Well played by Abasov. Hope he can hold.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 8 Women's The big game is Tan vs Lei! Lei defense! defense! and now offence! Will she pull out a win?

[Hans Jung]

Rd 8 Salimova has outplayed Muzychuk. Can she convert her endgame advantage? Its rook and two pawns vs knight and three pawns, all on the same side.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 8 Tan knocked out by Lei! Unstoppable checkmate! That loss will change the standings for sure!