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Firouzja Falls At Final Candidates Hurdle, Wins Only 5.5/6, Drops Below So
Can Alireza Firouzja still qualify for his second Candidates? Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.

Firouzja Falls At Final Candidates Hurdle, Wins Only 5.5/6, Drops Below So

Colin_McGourty
Colin_McGourty
Staff
| 106 | Chess Event Coverage

GM Alireza Firouzja had overtaken GM Wesley So on the live rating list after scoring 5/5 in a series of three matches against veterans in his home chess club of Chartres. Alas for the 20-year-old, he had one more game to play, and a draw from a lost position against GM Sergey Fedorchuk saw him drop behind So again in the race to qualify for the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024 in Toronto, Canada. Is it over, or is there another twist to come? 

The Candidates Race Descends Into Chaos

The Candidates tournament is an eight-player event next April that will decide who faces reigning Chess World Champion Ding Liren in the next world championship match. The first six places were decided without controversy, except that world number-one Magnus Carlsen has said he will not take the spot he gained for winning the FIDE World Cup, leaving a chance of a lifetime for GM Nijat Abasov. 

# Player FED Rating Age Qualified By
1 Ian Nepomniachtchi FIDE 2771 33 World Championship Runner-Up
2 Praggnanandhaa R India 2740 18 World Cup Runner-Up
3 Fabiano Caruana United States 2794 31 World Cup 3rd
4 Nijat Abasov Azerbaijan 2641 28 World Cup 4th
5 Vidit Gujrathi India 2737 29 Grand Swiss Winner
6 Hikaru Nakamura United States 2788 36 Grand Swiss Runner-Up

The final two spots, however, have seen an exciting race that has at times descended into pure farce as we've reached the finish line. The best summary in a single image is the meme posted by GM Fabiano Caruana or his podcast co-host GM Cristian Chirila from the C-Squared Podcast account.

It's funny because it's (almost) true. Caruana has a huge lead in the remaining two ways to qualify—via the FIDE Circuit or by rating—but doesn't need them, as he qualified via the World Cup.

The FIDE Circuit spot, based on a player's five best results in 2023, had looked to be GM Anish Giri's, especially after GM Gukesh Dommaraju failed to win the London Chess Classic, but then a new event appeared—the Chennai Grand Masters. That was unapologetically billed as a chance for Gukesh and GM Arjun Erigaisi to qualify for the Candidates, which served as the "catalyst" for the organizers to fulfill a long-term dream of organizing a super-tournament in India.

The mission succeeded, with the two players tying for first, taking Gukesh ahead of Giri in the race.

There could be a late twist in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Samarkand, Uzbekistan that runs December 26-30, but it's going to take a heroic feat to change the status quo. Giri needs to finish first to third in the Rapid, or only sole first in the Blitz, to overtake Gukesh. For Arjun, only winning the Rapid will do.

Gukesh said he'd given up on the Candidates after a tough few months, but now he's almost home and dry. Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.

That means we can expect Gukesh to become the third Indian player in the 2024 Candidates, while the final rating spot, largely predictably, has led to chaos. For previous qualification cycles to the Candidates, the spot was based on the average rating over a calendar year, which had some large drawbacks: it greatly increased the significance of your rating and results early in the year, and it encouraged not playing near the end if you were well-placed.          

Still, those drawbacks appear small compared to the decision to take only the January 2024 rating into account, which has left a group of players close enough that it would feel reckless not to make some attempt to gain those points, by hook or by crook.

So emerged from the Sinquefield Cup with a lead, but GM Leinier Dominguez, only a point behind, set off to Spain to play the Chessable Sunway Sitges open. The stress and rating peril of playing much lower-rated players told, however, and Dominguez withdrew at the halfway point after dropping rating points.

Was So safe? Not yet! Firouzja, who had been higher rated all year until a bad Sinquefield Cup, decided to make a late bid for the Candidates.

Firouzja Plots Path To Candidates, Controversy Ensues

The same day after Dominguez withdrew, it turned out that Firouzja would start an event carefully crafted to give him a shot at the Candidates. Giri, who quipped he could play some games against his wife IM Sopiko Guramishvili, quickly labeled Firouzja's approach "farming."

Firouzja's local chess club had organized for him to play two-game matches against three players: 

  • 52-year-old GM Alexandre Dgebuadze, a former Georgian and four-time Belgium Champion, with a peak rating of 2563 and a current rating of 2439
  • 51-year-old French GM Andrei Shchekachev, with a peak rating of 2593 and current rating of 2506    
  • 42-year-old Ukrainian GM Sergey Fedorchuk, with a peak rating 2674, and a rating of 2640 in January 2023 which had plummeted to 2546 by December

There would be 90 minutes for each game, with a 30-second increment per move, and the revolution would be televized on Chartres TV. The only score that would do for Firouzja to finish ahead of So was 6/6, unless he stopped the match after reaching 5/5.

One way or another it was bound to be compelling viewing.

The matches had barely started before people were complaining, led by So, who midway through the event shut down his Twitter/X account after heavily hinting that Firouzja's opponents were losing on purpose. FIDE also rushed to comment, highlighting that they could decide not to rate the games.

Today, on December 18, the mini-matches featuring GM Alireza Firouzja (Elo 2750) began in Chartres, France - his hometown. This eight-game tournament pits Firouzja against three veteran players with an average rating of 2497 Elo points. Concerns have arisen regarding the tournament's potential purpose: whether it was orchestrated to aid Mr Firouzja in boosting his rating for potential qualification into the Candidates Tournament 2024.

The International Chess Federation would like to point out that, according to Clause 0.4 of its Rating Regulations, "FIDE reserves the right not to rate a specific tournament".

FIDE has already sent an official request to the organizers of the event. We will carefully follow and investigate all aspects of the organization of the above-mentioned tournament and all the games played by its participants before deciding whether to rate it.

The International Chess Federation is dedicated to addressing not just this specific case but also similar occurrences that may arise. Discussions will be held to explore potential amendments to the FIDE Rating Regulations, aiming to prevent such situations in the future.

FIDE reiterates its unwavering commitment to upholding fair play and ensuring equal opportunities for all chess players.

To say that opened a can of worms would be an understatement. Of course the tournament was designed to give Firouzja a chance at the Candidates, as was the event in Chennai, while countless "norm" tournaments each year pit ambitious young title-seekers against veteran grandmasters. There was also the case of the current World Champion Ding. That was raised by the player he won the match against, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Many pointed out that Ding hadn't needed to gain rating points but just needed to play enough games to be eligible with his existing rating, but on the other hand, the events that were arranged for him to play the games and keep his rating were very unusual. 

A common sentiment was that organizing such events was something that FIDE's new qualification route made inevitable, and not something to blame on the players.

The rapid response by FIDE to cast aspersions in this particular case drew anger from French grandmasters, especially considering the current FIDE leadership had just shown a total lack of shame by going back on its election promises and giving incumbent President Arkady Dvorkovich the right to stand for an unlimited number of terms.

The escalation continued as U.S. Chess Federation President Randy Bauer appealed to FIDE not to rate the event in France.

International Arbiter Chris Bird made one of the most measured responses, pointing out that the French tournament was unremarkable among the events that are regularly approved for rating purposes.

For many, however, the chaos was a source of fun.

As the circus rolled on, and on, Firouzja had some chess to play in Chartres.

The Games

Game 1: Firouzja 1-0 Dgebuadze

The games that followed in Chartres poured oil on the fire of the controversy, starting with Dgebuadze staying faithful to a risky system of the French Defense that didn't fill So with joy, especially when Black was close to lost on move 15. Giri, meanwhile, was nostalgic. 

It was an interesting game and has been analyzed by GM Rafael Leitao below. 

Conspiracy theorists would have more to work with in the upcoming games.

Game 2: Dgebuadze 0-1 Firouzja

All the debate about this game centered around an exchange sacrifice played at a moment when there was a tricky, but not too tricky for a grandmaster, way to keep the material balance.

It was one match down, two to go. 

Game 3: Firouzja 1-0 Shchekachev
A new day, a new opponent, and it was time to get serious.

This time there was no avoiding controversy, since Shchekachev resigned in a position that turned out to be equal. 

Our resident expert Leitao again takes a look. 

Game 4: Shchekachev 0-1 Firouzja

There were two games on the same day, and soon it was 4/4, with a Greek gift sacrifice that was renamed by an online commentator.

Leitao again takes a closer look at the game.

Game 5: Fedorchuk 0-1 Firouzja

This was a big game, since a win would take Firouzja ahead of So on the live rating list. Fedorchuk also represented a higher level of difficulty, with the 42-year-old Ukrainian not to be underestimated.

Alas, he didn't show that quality in the first game, with 32.Rb5?? an absolute howler, running into 32...Ne2+! and 33...Nc3, forking the two white rooks and winning the game. 

It was mission accomplished, but it also put Firouzja in an awkward dilemma.

If Firouzja stopped the match—perhaps claiming ill-health—he would end the tournament, and likely the year, ahead of So and qualify for the Candidates if, and it's a big if, FIDE rated the event. The withdrawal would likely lower the chances of that happening, but then again, would FIDE want to risk a lawsuit where Firouzja would argue his right to play?

Giri felt a phrase used by Dominguez in pulling out of Sitges might have been re-employed. 

Instead, Firouzja did the honorable thing and played what was a must-win game with the white pieces. The outcome was good for the honor of the tournament but was a bit like the limited success of a witch proving they're not a witch by drowning.

Game 6: Firouzja ½-½ Fedorchuk

When Fedorchuk played the Sicilian it felt like so far, so good, but by move 12 queens were exchanged, and Giri was soon praising Fedorchuk's play.

The internet waited for the tide to turn and Firouzja somehow to emerge with a winning position... but it never happened. In fact, as the clocks ran down and neither player had much time to think, it was White who was in trouble as Firouzja tried to make something happen.

Instead, he overpushed and was losing, which would cost 7.8 rating points and slam the Candidates door shut. Then, however, he offered a draw which, after some thought, Fedorchuk accepted.

Firouzja's controversial adventure had ended in failure—a mere 5.5/6—at least for now.

Firouzja needs just 0.4 rating points so that his rating and So's will be rounded to 2757 on January 1. Image: 2700chess.

That leaves one question.

What Now?

With the Candidates qualification balanced on a knife-edge, will Firouzja stop now and concede defeat? Many pointed out that a fourth Christmas match is scheduled in Chartres, for Saturday, December 23.

It's unclear if that match was originally supposed to feature Firouzja, but for now the players are in fact due to be Fedorchuk, again, taking on his 25-year-old compatriot IM Yuliia Osmak.

Still, if for any reason either of those players were unable to play, Firouzja might make a willing replacement—he would overtake So again with a 2/2 win.

Of course, nothing is stopping the three-time American Champion So from playing himself. Some unusual suggestions have been made!

For once our chess Christmas is not just about the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, though it's worth noting that Firouzja is due to play in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on December 26. There's only so long he can continue the Candidates battle.

Update: December 23

Firouzja has now disappeared from the starting lists for the World Rapid and Blitz, where he was ranked 7th in the Rapid and 2nd in the Blitz. Here, for instance, is the new Blitz Top 10.

No. Name FED Rtg
1 GM Carlsen, Magnus 2887
2 GM Caruana, Fabiano 2815
3 GM Artemiev, Vladislav 2799
4 GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian 2795
5 GM Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 2775
6 GM Aronian, Levon 2772
7 GM Martirosyan, Haik M. 2770
8 GM Dubov, Daniil 2763
9 GM Yu, Yangyi 2762
10 GM Rapport, Richard 2748

That means Firouzja may be free to mount a new bid for the Candidates for another few days.  

Colin_McGourty
Colin McGourty

Colin McGourty led news at Chess24 from its launch until it merged with Chess.com a decade later. An amateur player, he got into chess writing when he set up the website Chess in Translation after previously studying Slavic languages and literature in St. Andrews, Odesa, Oxford, and Krakow.

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