Women's Candidates Tournament 2024
 Tan Zhongyi, the winner of the tournament, will advance to the Women's World Chess Championship 2025 match. | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Chess |
| Location | Toronto, Canada |
| Dates | 3 April–22 April 2024 |
| Administrator | FIDE |
Tournament format(s) | Double round-robin tournament |
| Participants | 8 from 5 nations |
| Final positions | |
| Champion |  Tan Zhongyi |
The FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2024 was an eight-player chess tournament held to determine the challenger for the Women's World Chess Championship 2025. It was held from 3 April to 22 April 2024 in Toronto, Canada, alongside the Candidates Tournament 2024.[1][2]
It was a double round-robin tournament.[3] Tan Zhongyi won the tournament and will play in the Women's World Chess Championship match in 2025 against the current Women's World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun.
Qualification[edit]
The eight players who qualified[4] are:
| Qualification method | Player | Age | Rating | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (April 2024) | ||||
| 2023 Women's World Championship runner-up | Lei Tingjie
|
27 | 2550 | 4 |
| The top two finishers in the Women's Grand Prix 2022–23 |
 Kateryna Lagno[a] (winner)
|
34 | 2542 | 6 |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina[a] (runner-up)
|
25 | 2553 | 3 | |
| The top three finishers in the Women's Chess World Cup 2023[b] |
 Nurgyul Salimova (runner-up)
|
20 | 2432 | 36 |
 Anna Muzychuk (third place)
|
34 | 2520 | 8 | |
| The top two finishers in the Women's Grand Swiss 2023[c] |
 R Vaishali (winner)
|
22 | 2475 | 15 |
| Tan Zhongyi (third place)
|
32 | 2521 | 7 | |
| Highest-rated active player for January 2024[b] | Koneru Humpy
|
37 | 2546 | 5 |
Organization[edit]
The tournament is an eight-player, double round-robin tournament, meaning there are 14 rounds with each player facing the others twice: once with the black pieces and once with the white pieces. The tournament winner will qualify to play Ju Wenjun for the Women's World Chess Championship 2025.
Players from the same federation are required to play each other in the first rounds of each half[7] to avoid collusion. The players affected in the 2024 Women's Candidates are Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina representing FIDE[citation needed] Lei Tingjie and Tan Zhongyi representing China, and R Vaishali and Koneru Humpy representing India. They will face each other in rounds 1 and 8.
In March 2024, FIDE announced pairings for the tournament.[8]
Regulations[edit]
The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move 1. Players get 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
Tiebreaks for the first place are addressed as follows:[7]
- Players would play two rapid chess games at 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. If a three- to six-way tie had occurred, a single round-robin would be played. If seven or eight players had been tied, a single round-robin would be played with a time limit of 10 minutes plus 5 seconds per move.
- If any players had still been tied for first after the rapid chess games, they would play two blitz chess games at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. In the case of more than two players being tied, a single round-robin would be played.
- If any players were still tied for first after these blitz chess games, the remaining players would play a knock-out blitz tournament at the same time control. In each mini-match of the proposed knock-out tournament, the first player to win a game would win the mini-match.
Ties for places other than first will be broken by, in order: (1) Sonneborn–Berger score; (2) total number of wins; (3) head-to-head score among tied players; (4) drawing of lots.
The prize money is €24,000 for first place, €18,000 for second place, and €12,000 for third place (with players on the same number of points sharing prize money, irrespective of tie-breaks), plus €1,750 per half-point for every player, for a total prize pool of €250,000.[7]
Schedule[edit]
|
Results[edit]
Tan Zhongyi led from start to finish to win the tournament. She was the only player who won in the first round (against Lei Tingjie), and when she won again in the second round, she built up a lead over her rivals. In the first half of the tournament Aleksandra Goryachinka kept pace with Tan, but Tan stayed half a point ahead. A momentous round 8 saw Lei - who had won in rounds 6 and 7 - win a third consecutive game against Tan. This led to a three-way tie for first. However, Tan won again in round 9, while Goryachinka lost in round 10 to fall behind. By round 12, only Tan and Lei were still in with a realistic chance. When Lei lost to Vaishali in round 13, Tan was effectively champion. A draw in the final round gave Tan the tournament victory, with a 1.5-point margin.
For the other competitors, Muzychuk achieved several winning positions, but she did not manage to win them, and she finished the tournament as the only player who did not win a game. Salimova, the only non-grandmaster in the field (Vaishali was a GM-elect), also had a difficult tournament, finishing joint-last with Muzychuk. Humpy started the tournament poorly with losses in rounds 4 and 6, but recovered in the second half to finish on +1. Vaishali had an even more turbulent tournament, at one point losing four games in a row to be solidly last, but then winning five consecutive games at the end to tie for 2nd-4th.
Standings[edit]
| Rank | Player | Score | SB | Wins | Qualification | TZ | KH | LT | RV | AG | KL | NS | AM | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN)
|
9 / 14 | 60.5 | 5 | Advance to title match | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | |||
| 2[d] | Koneru Humpy (IND)
|
7.5 / 14 | 52.25 | 3 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 3[d] | Lei Tingjie (CHN)
|
7.5 / 14 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 4[d] | R Vaishali (IND)
|
7.5 / 14 | 47.5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ||||
| 5 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE)
|
7 / 14 | 47 | 2 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ||||
| 6 | Kateryna Lagno (FIDE)
|
6.5 / 14 | 45 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 7[e] | Nurgyul Salimova (BUL)
|
5.5 / 14 | 39.5 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
| 8[e] | Anna Muzychuk (UKR)
|
5.5 / 14 | 38.75 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ||||
Tie-breakers for first place: (1) results in tie-break games for first place;
Tie breakers for non-first place: (1) results in tie-break games for first place, if any; (2) Sonneborn–Berger score (SB); (3) total number of wins; (4) head-to-head score among tied players; (5) drawing of lots.[7]
Note: Numbers in the crosstable in a white background indicate the result playing the respective opponent with the white pieces (black pieces if on a black background). This does not give information which of the two games was played in the first half of the tournament, and which in the second.
Points by round[edit]
This table shows each player's cumulative difference between their number of wins and losses after each round. Green backgrounds indicate the player(s) with the highest score after each round. Red backgrounds indicate player(s) who could no longer win the tournament after each round.[f]
| Rank | Player | Rounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||
| 1 | Tan Zhongyi (CHN)
|
+1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 |
| 2 | Koneru Humpy (IND)
|
= | = | = | –1 | –1 | –2 | –2 | –1 | −1 | −1 | = | = | = | +1 |
| 3 | Lei Tingjie (CHN)
|
–1 | –1 | –1 | –1 | –1 | = | +1 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +2 | +1 |
| 4 | R Vaishali (IND)
|
= | –1 | = | = | = | –1 | –2 | –3 | −4 | −3 | −2 | –1 | = | +1 |
| 5 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE)
|
= | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +1 | = | = | = | = |
| 6 | Kateryna Lagno (FIDE)
|
= | = | = | = | = | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +1 | = | = | = | –1 |
| 7 | Nurgyul Salimova (BUL)
|
= | = | –1 | = | = | –1 | –1 | –1 | −1 | −2 | −3 | –3 | –3 | –3 |
| 8 | Anna Muzychuk (UKR)
|
= | –1 | –1 | –1 | –1 | –2 | –2 | –2 | −2 | −2 | −2 | –3 | –3 | –3 |
Pairings by round[edit]
First named player is white. 1–0 indicates a white win, 0–1 indicates a black win, and ½–½ indicates a draw. Numbers in parentheses show players' scores prior to the round. Final column indicates opening played, sourced from Lichess.[10]
| Round 1 (4 April 2024) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aleksandra Goryachkina | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno | B30 Sicilian Rossolimo |
| Anna Muzychuk | ½–½ | Nurgyul Salimova | C43 Petrov Steinitz |
| Lei Tingjie | 0–1 | Tan Zhongyi | D35 QGD Exchange |
| R Vaishali | ½–½ | Koneru Humpy | C54 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Round 2 (5 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (½) | ½–½ | Koneru Humpy (½) | C88 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Tan Zhongyi (1) | 1–0 | R Vaishali (½) | D01 Rapport–Jobava London |
| Nurgyul Salimova (½) | ½–½ | Lei Tingjie (0) | D27 QGA Classical |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (½) | 1–0 | Anna Muzychuk (½) | D10 Slav Exchange |
| Round 3 (6 April 2024) | |||
| Anna Muzychuk (½) | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno (1) | C88 Ruy Lopez Closed |
| Lei Tingjie (½) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (1½) | C51 Evans Gambit |
| R Vaishali (½) | 1–0 | Nurgyul Salimova (1) | C42 Petrov Classical |
| Koneru Humpy (1) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (2) | A08 Reversed Grünfeld |
| Round 4 (7 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (1½) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (2½) | B92 Sicilian Najdorf |
| Nurgyul Salimova (1) | 1–0 | Koneru Humpy (1½) | E06 Closed Catalan |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (2) | ½–½ | R Vaishali (1½) | D33 Tarrasch Defense |
| Anna Muzychuk (1) | ½–½ | Lei Tingjie (1) | C01 French Exchange |
| Round 5 (9 April 2024) | |||
| Lei Tingjie (1½) | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno (2) | C55 Two Knights Defense |
| R Vaishali (2) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (1½) | C50 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Koneru Humpy (1½) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (2½) | D40 Semi-Tarrasch Defence |
| Tan Zhongyi (3) | ½–½ | Nurgyul Salimova (2) | B12 Caro–Kann Advance |
| Round 6 (10 April 2024) | |||
| R Vaishali (2½) | 0–1 | Kateryna Lagno (2½) | C89 Ruy Lopez Marshall |
| Koneru Humpy (2) | 0–1 | Lei Tingjie (2) | E97 King's Indian Defense |
| Tan Zhongyi (3½) | 1–0 | Anna Muzychuk (2) | D05 Colle System |
| Nurgyul Salimova (2½) | 0–1 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (3) | E05 Open Catalan |
| Round 7 (11 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (3½) | ½–½ | Nurgyul Salimova (2½) | C60 Ruy Lopez Cozio |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (4) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (4½) | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Anna Muzychuk (2) | ½–½ | Koneru Humpy (2) | C70 Ruy Lopez Cozio Deferred |
| Lei Tingjie (3) | 1–0 | R Vaishali (2½) | C50 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Round 8 (13 April 2024) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Kateryna Lagno (4) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (4½) | C78 Ruy Lopez Møller |
| Nurgyul Salimova (3) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (2½) | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Tan Zhongyi (5) | 0–1 | Lei Tingjie (4) | D02 London System |
| Koneru Humpy (2½) | 1–0 | R Vaishali (2½) | D81 Grünfeld Defense |
| Round 9 (14 April 2024) | |||
| Koneru Humpy (3½) | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno (4½) | D38 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| R Vaishali (2½) | 0–1 | Tan Zhongyi (5) | B22 Sicilian Defence |
| Lei Tingjie (5) | ½–½ | Nurgyul Salimova (3½) | C41 Philidor Defence |
| Anna Muzychuk (3) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (5) | C67 Ruy Lopez |
| Round 10 (15 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (5) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (3½) | C88 Ruy Lopez |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (5½) | 0–1 | Lei Tingjie (5½) | D10 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Nurgyul Salimova (4) | 0–1 | R Vaishali (2½) | D70 Neo-Grünfeld Defence |
| Tan Zhongyi (6) | ½–½ | Koneru Humpy (4) | C45 Scotch Game |
| Round 11 (17 April 2024) | |||
| Tan Zhongyi (6½) | 1–0 | Kateryna Lagno (5½) | A05 King's Indian Attack |
| Koneru Humpy (4½) | 1–0 | Nurgyul Salimova (4) | D12 Slav Defence |
| R Vaishali (3½) | 1–0 | Aleksandra Goryachkina (5½) | B22 Sicilian Alapin |
| Lei Tingjie (6½) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (4) | C54 Giuoco Pianissimo |
| Round 12 (18 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (5½) | ½–½ | Lei Tingjie (7) | C02 French Advance |
| Anna Muzychuk (4½) | 0–1 | R Vaishali (4½) | C80 Ruy Lopez Open |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (5½) | ½–½ | Koneru Humpy (5½) | E05 Open Catalan |
| Nurgyul Salimova (4) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (7½) | A07 King's Indian Attack |
| Round 13 (20 April 2024) | |||
| Nurgyul Salimova (4½) | ½–½ | Kateryna Lagno (6) | E05 Catalan Opening |
| Tan Zhongyi (8) | ½–½ | Aleksandra Goryachkina (6) | D50 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| Koneru Humpy (6) | ½–½ | Anna Muzychuk (4½) | D30 Queen's Gambit Declined |
| R Vaishali (5½) | 1–0 | Lei Tingjie (7½) | B51 Sicilian Defence |
| Round 14 (21 April 2024) | |||
| Kateryna Lagno (6½) | 0–1 | R Vaishali (6½) | C77 Ruy Lopez Anderssen |
| Lei Tingjie (7½) | 0–1 | Koneru Humpy (6½) | E24 Nimzo-Indian, Sämisch |
| Anna Muzychuk (5) | ½–½ | Tan Zhongyi (8½) | B32 Sicilian Defence |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina (6½) | ½–½ | Nurgyul Salimova (5) | C41 Philidor Defence |
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b Russian players' flags are displayed as the FIDE flag, as FIDE banned Russian and Belarusian flags from FIDE-rated events in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[5]
- ^ a b Aleksandra Goryachkina finished first in the Women's Chess World Cup 2023, but had already qualified for the Candidates through the FIDE Women's Grand Prix 2022–23. She is replaced by Koneru Humpy, who was the highest-rated player on the January 2024 FIDE rating list who had played a minimum of 30 games.
- ^ Anna Muzychuk finished second in the Women's Grand Swiss 2023, but she had already qualified for the Candidates through the Women's Chess World Cup 2023. According to the regulations, the second spot for the Candidates via the Women's Grand Swiss was awarded to the highest finisher of the Grand Swiss who had not already qualified (3rd-place finisher Tan Zhongyi).[6]
- ^ a b c SB scores
- ^ a b SB scores
- ^ Players are marked in red if there is no permutation of remaining results that allows them to catch up the tournament leader(s) after remaining rounds.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Toronto will host the 2024 FIDE Candidates Tournaments". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2023-08-14.
- ^ "FIDE Candidates, Women's Candidates 2024 To Be Held In Toronto". Chess.com.
- ^ "FIDE WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Cycle 2023 - 2025". FIDE.
- ^ "Qualification for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2024" (PDF). FIDE.
- ^ FIDE Condemns Military Action; Takes Measures Against Russia, Belarus, chess.com, 28 February 2022
- ^ "Qualification for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2024" (PDF). FIDE.
- ^ a b c d Regulations for the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2024, (PDF) FIDE,
- ^ Pairings: accessed 4 March 2024
- ^ "FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024". candidates.fide.com. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "FIDE Candidates 2024". Lichess. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
External links[edit]
| Tournament format | |
|---|---|
| Match format | |
| Knock-out format | |
| Alternating format | |
| Match format | |
